Determination of Inflorescence Developmental Stages and the Best Flower Picking-up Time for Gerbera jamesonii
The development and the vascular structures of three gerbera varieties (Gerbera jamesonii), 'Red-Tube' and 'Cora' and 'Delphi', were studied. The best flower picking-up time for the three varieties was also determined via the cut flower vase life experiment. It was found that the inflorescence development of the three varieties of gerbera could be divided into nine stages. The best picking-up time for Red-Tube was at the first anther emergence stage (stage VI), while for the other two varieties 'Cora' and 'Delphi' at the anther concealment stage (stage V). During these two stages the cut flowers showed better morphological ornamental value due to bigger vascular area, thicker phloem fibre and larger quantities of vessels which resulted in good conductivity and mechanical support of the inflorescence.