The physiology of hyacinth bulbs. XV. The effect of gibberellic acid and silver nitrate on dormancy release and growth

The effect of gibberellic acid (GA₃), supplied to dormant hyacinth bulbs of cultivars ‘Lady Derby’ and ‘L'Innocence’ by vacuum infiltration, on growth and flowering was investigated. Results showed that GA₃ in all applied concentrations (50, 500, 1000 and 5000 mg/l) accelerated growth and flowering in both cultivars, after chilling for 42 days in a garden frame in natural conditions or chilled dry in cold storage at 5°C. Bulb infiltration with 10 mg/l AgNO₃ resulted in the acceleration of flowering only in ‘L'Innocence’, but stimulated the growth of the inflorescence stalk and leaves in both cultivars regardless of the mode of chilling.The infiltration method was confirmed to be very promising.