ASPECTOS DEL CRECIMLENTO, DESARROLLO Y PRODUCCION DE Alpinia purpurata (Vieill.) K. Schum JUNGLE KING' PROYEMENTE DE CUILTIVO IN VITRO.

The present investigation had as an objective to evaluate aspects of the growth, development and production of plants of Alpinia purpurata 'Jungle King' coming from cultivation in vitro during two cultivation conditions:a) nursery phase, with a duration of 7 months and b) field phase for a period of 15 months, under the dose of 150, 300 and 600 kg of N/ha/año, considering the age of the plant and the dosage of nitrogen. The variables were the number of shoots or pseudobulbs per plant, height and number of leaves per shoot, which presented rates of monthly increment of 2 shoots, 6 to 7 cm in the first two months and of 2 to 3 leaves, respectively. The variables evaluated were the number of shoots and plant area whose rate of monthly increment varied from 4 to 14 shoots, and of 8 at 374 cm², respectively. Likewise, the factors considered were the height and number of leaves of each shoot, registering increases from 20 to 48 cm in the first four months, and of 2 to 3 leaves per month, respectively. For the height, these values increased as the new shoots emerged; while for the new leaves, the pattern remained constant. The production average of flowers in this phase was 37 per plant in 9 months. The nitrogen only affected significantly the variable height and number of leaves,with the dose of 300 kg the best. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]