Effects of Corm Size and Number of Storage Roots on Flowering Date and Yield of Flower stalks and Corms of Curcuma alismatifolia

Yu-Mei Hsu

　Experiments were conducted to study the effects of corm size and number of storage roots on flowering date and the production of flower stalks and corms of Curcuma alismatifolia. The results showed that corms over 1.5cm in diameter emerged and flowered earlier than corms below 1.5cm in diameter. The yield of daughter corms and flower stacks from mother corms over 1.5cm in diameter were higher than those from corms below 1.5cm in diameter. Corms, among 1.5 and 2.0cm in diameter, with more storage roots usually emerged and flowered earlier. The yield of flower stacks per corm increased as storage roots increased. Yield of daughter corms from corms with more than 3 storage roots, was significantly higher than that from corms with less than 2 storage roots. Thus corms over 1.5cm in diameter with more than 3 storage roots are recommended for flower stalk production of curcuma.

Key words: Curcuma alismatifolia, corm size, storage roots, yield of flower stalks, yield of corm