Abstract

This study describes the stage from seed to bulb of plants of Leucocoryne sp. cultivated in Quillota, V Region, Chile (32°53’ S lat; 71°16’ W long). The genotypes used were Leucocoryne purpurea Gay, Leucocoryne sp. ecotype Talinay, and Leucocoryne sp. ecotype Alcones, all originated in the IV Region, Chile. Two hundred random seeds per genotype were weighed and sown on each of three dates: September, October and November of 1998. After emergence, six random individuals were sampled every two weeks to observe number and leaf shape; days to the beginning of bulb formation and senescence; maximum length (LH), leaf surface area (AF) and leaf dry matter (MSH); and bulb dry matter (MSB), fresh weight (PFB) and diameter (DB). Independent of the genotype or sowing date, only the cotyledon leaf was formed; bulb formation began between 35 to 49 days, and the plants senescence occurred at 91 days. The average ranges were 0.7-1.8 mg seed-1 for seed weight, 4.9-7.0 cm leaf-1 for LH, 78.6-125.8 mm2 leaf-1 for AF, 1.4-2.6 mg hoja-1 for MSH, 11.2-23.0 mg bulb-1 MSB, 38.0-87.7 mg bulb-1 PFB, and 3.8-5.0 mm bulb-1 for DB. In all cases the smallest values corresponded to Leucocoryne sp. ecotype Talinay, and the largest to the Leucocoryne sp. ecotype Alcones. These results suggest that the differences have a strong genetic component. It was not possible to obtain flowering bulbs (PFB > 0.3 g bulb-1) in this first stage.