쿠르쿠마(Curcuma alismatifolia ‘Chiangmai Pink’)의 화아분화 과정

Curcuma alismatifolia is becoming popular for cut flowers and potted plants due to its long inflorescence with many showy pink flowers. It is propagated by rhizomes and inflorescences that are similar to those of lotus. However, initiation of inflorescence development of each bract and flower has not been investigated. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to study the inflorescence development of Curcuma alismatifolia ‘Chiangmai Pink’ by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). When new shoots grew to 15-20 ㎝ in a greenhouse at 25℃, the first bract initiated with a dome-shaped inflorescence apex, followed by initiation of additional bracts, forming the shape of the flower head. Florets were subtended by the first bract when five to seven bracts were formed. Four to six florets were subtended by each bract. The floret positioned in the center initiated and progressed upward first. When the center florets in the upper bracts were formed, florets next to the center floret subtended by the first bract were formed, and formation of the axillary florets progressed upward in sequential order.