IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2014) 5-2

Research articleerd

The Flowering Capabilities of Three Water lily Hybrids
PURIN AKKARAKULTRON*
Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi,
Pathum Thani, Thailand
Email: Purin4907@yahoo.com

DOWROONG WATCHARINRAT
Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi,
Pathum Thani, Thailand

TONGMEE MOSOM
Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi,
Pathum Thani, Thailand
Received 21 January 2014

Accepted 1 March 2014(*Corresponding Author)

Abstract This research aims to examine the yields of water lilies belonging to theNymphaea sp. (hybrid) for flowering capabilities purposes: Nymphaea ‘Chalongkwan’,Nymphaea ‘Khaomongkol’, and Nymphaea ‘Chompoomamiew’. The randomized
complete block design (RCB) was implemented in which three sets of five experiments
each were carried out. The data were collected three months after the cultivars had beengrown for one month at the experimental plot of Rajamangala University of Technology
Thanyaburi. The research results revealed that N. ‘Chalongkwan’ was the cultivars withthe highest monthly yield, i.e. 14.48 flowers per clump, each with a flowers diameter of
18.89 cm and a stalk diameter of 1.56 cm. This was followed by N. ‘Chompoomamiew’,
which produced a monthly yield of 11.86 flowers per clump, each with a flower diameterof 16.06 cm and a stalk diameter of 1.31 cm. The cultivars with the lowest yield was N.
‘Khaomongkol’, i.e. only 9.91 flowers per clump, each with a flower diameter of 15.09 cm
and a stalk diameter of 1.35 cm. In addition, N. ‘Chalongkwan’ produced the highest yield
per rai of 5,792 flowers, followed by N. ‘Chompoomamiew’ at 4,741 flowers, and N.
‘Khaomongkol’at 3,962 flowers.
Keywords Nymphaea, water lily, lotus

INTRODUCTION
Lotuses and Water lilies or Bua (Thai), aquatic plants commonly found in Thailand, have long beenclosely connected to the lifestyle of local people (Lekhakul, 1992). They are used for several
purposes, such as treatment of diseases, consumption, commercial cutting, and decoration.
Particularly notable is their use for paying respect to the Triratna, or the Three Jewels, namely theLord Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha, as lotuses represent sacredness and purity.
Farmers nationwide grow lotuses for commercial cutting, being able to supply yields to themarket all year round, since they are easy to grow and maintain. Lotuses in the genus Nelumbo,including Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn, are more popular than those in the genus Nymphaea, including
Tropical water lily, Hardy water lily, Australian Giant water lily, N. ‘Jongkolnee’, and N.
‘Nangkwaug’.
As for water lilies in the Nymphaea sp. cultivars, they grow in varied beautiful colors and are
fragrant, some with many layers of petal and strong stems, such as N. ‘Chalongkwan’, N.
‘Khaomongkol’, N. ‘Chompoomamiew’ and N. ‘Director George T. Moore’ Such qualities makethem suitable for ornamental functions. It would be of interest, therefore, to examine how tomaximize the yields of these three cultivars of water lily in the genus Nymphaea.

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IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2014) 5-2

OBJECTIVE
To examine the yields per plot of three cultivars of water lily belonging to Nymphaea sp., the sizeof flower for each cultivars.
METHODOLOGY
Three sets of five experiments each were conducted following the randomized complete block
design (RCB). The three cultivars of water lily, namely Nymphaea ‘Chalongkwan’, Nymphaea‘Khaomongkol’, and Nymphaea ‘Chompoomamiew’, were grown in flowerpots for 1.5 months
before they were transferred to the experimental plot in which four rows of water lilies were grown
per 80 m2 sub-plot. The growing interval, i.e. distance between rows and distance between trunks,
was 2x2 m.
Prior to growing, the soil was prepared by ploughing once, and two tons of manure fertilizer
was then added per rai. Fourteen days after planting the water lilies, three packs of 30 g 25-7-7chemical fertilizer were added for each trunk in opposite directions. Then three packs of 30 g 25-77 and of 30 g 8-24-24 chemical fertilizer were added for each trunk at 30, 60, and 90 days after theplanting. During this period, blemished leaves were removed, and pesticides were sprayed every 15days. The data were collected one month after the water lilies were planted. Their growth, flower
diameter, and stalk diameter, yield per month were recorded. The data analysis was carried out
following the RCB. Additionally, Duncan’s new multiple range test (DMRT) was done todetermine the differences between the three cultivars).
RESULTSAs shown in Table 1, the flower diameter of N. ‘Chalongkwan’ was the largest with an average sizeof 18.89 cm, followed by that of N. ‘Chompoomamiew’ (16.06 cm) and N. ‘Khaomongkol’ (15.09cm). In terms of stalk size, the numbers were 1.56 cm, 1.35 cm, and 1.31 cm for N. ‘Chalongkwan’,N. ‘Khaomongkol’, and N. ‘Chompoomamiew’, respectively. Regarding to the yield, N.
‘Chalongkwan’ produced 14.48 flowers per clump per month. In second time, N.
‘Chompoomamiew’ produced 11.86 flowers per clump per month. The observed cultivar with thelowest yield was N. ‘Khaomongkol’, producing 9.91 flowers per clump per month. DMRT
indicated statistical significant between the three cultivars in all aspects.
Table 1 Flower diameter, stalk diameter and no. of flowers/clump/month
Cultivars
N. ‘Chalongkwan’
N. ‘Khaomongkol’N. ‘Chompoomamiew’
F-testC.V. (%)

Flower diameter
18.89 a1
15.09 c16.06 b**
1.81

Stalk diameter
1.56 a11.35 b
1.31 c**1.00

No. of flowers/clump/month
14.48 a1
9.91 c11.86 b**2.69

1Similar vertical numbers indicate no statistical significant at df = 0.95.

Table 2 Average yield of flowers 1 to 3 month after plant/rai
Cultivars
N. ‘Chalongkwan’
N. ‘Khaomongkol’N. ‘Chompoomamiew’
F-test
C.V. (%)

Yield of flowers after plant
1 month after plant
2 month after plant
3 month after plant
5776.0 a1
5696.0 a15904.0 a13712.0 c
4192.0 c
3984.0 c
4448.0 b
4816.0 b
4960.0 b
**
**
**
5.99
4.34
3.39

1Similar vertical numbers indicate no statistical significant at df = 0.95.

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IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2014) 5-2

Table 2 shows that each cultivar had a relatively high yield. The cultivar with the highest
yield was N. ‘Chalongkwan’, producing between 5,696.00 and 5,904.00 flowers per month. N.
‘Chompoomamiew’ produced the second highest yield of between 4,448.00 and 4,960.00 flowersper month. N. ‘Khaomongkol’ was the least productive cultivars, producing only 3,712.00 to4,192.00 flowers per month. DMRT demonstrated that the yields of the three cultivars werestatistically different.
DISCUSSION
According to the study, the flowering capabilities of three hybrids water lily. The results indicatethat N. ‘Chalongkwan’was the cultivars with the largest flower diameter and stalk diameter, as wellas the highest number of flowers per clump per month, i.e. 18.89 cm 1.56 cm and 14.48 flowers.
The N. ‘Khaomongkol’ was the least flower diameter and number of flowers per clump per month, i.e.
15.09 cm and 9.91 flowers. The results that average yield of flowers per rai, the N. ‘Chalongkwan’ wasthe cultivars with the highest average yield of flowers per rai, followed by N. ‘Chompoomamiew’and N. ‘Khaomongkol’. This experiment shows that the water lily flowers of three cultivars grownin the same environment. The flowering indicated statistical significant between the three cultivars.
This is consistent with Techapinyawat (2001) found that the process was flowers are factors
involved in the regulation of flowering many factors. Different species and even in the sameenvironment with the ability to create a different flower, depending on the plant itself and external
factors also contribute to the promotion and inhibition of flowering. Also Qichao and Xingyan(2004) found that lotus plants are long day, and the intensity of the light affects the growth andflowering. The hardy water lily varieties Gladstone when adding the aperture will be extended andaccelerated the bloom (Kelly and Frett, 1986). This is consistent with Wasuwat (1997) found thatthe water lily or lotus is the need of a period of full bloom and the sun varies.
N. ‘Chalongkwan’ is propagated from shoots or rhizomes. As one shoot or rhizome can growinto several clumps, it is necessary to plant them separately; otherwise, the flowers will become
smaller in size. In contrast, N. ‘Khaomongkol’ and N. ‘Chompoomamiew’ are bred from shoots
growing in the middle of leaves. Such leaves need to be trimmed in order to allow new shoots todevelop. In addition, if left to grow in an uncontrolled manner, the leaves will get densely layered,leading to possible damage from pests such as Erionotathrax.
CONCLUSION
Based on the findings, the N. ‘Chalongkwan’ was cultivars with the largest flower diameter andstalk diameter equaled 18.89 and 1.56 cm, respectively. Additionally, the number of flowers perclump per month was 14.48, and the average yield of flowers per rai was 5,792 flowers.
AKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors would like to offer our gratitude to the staff and workers at the Lotus and water lily
Museum, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, for growing and looking after thelotus during the experimental period. We are most grateful to the Faculty of AgriculturalTechnology, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, without whose 2013 grant thepresent research would not have been possible.
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Charnsilp, N. N. 2005. Lotus growing in Thailand. Journal of Landraces of Cultivated Plants, 1(1), 8-10 (inThai).
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9IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2014) 5-2Chomchalow, N. 2007. Lotus terminology. Thailand Network for the Conservation and Enhancement ofLandraces of Cultivated Plants in collaboration with the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental
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