Long term storage of lily bulbs at-2 °C

For an efficient maintenance of a lily collection, the maximum storage duration of Lilium bulbs stored at -2 degrees C in moist peat was determined. 'Avignon', 'Connecticut King', 'Enchantment', 'Esther', 'Mont Blanc' (Asiatic hybrids), 'Star Gazer' (Oriental hybrid), 'Gelria', and 'Snow Queen' (L. longiflorum) were used. The viability was determined by the percentage of bulbs with at least one regenerative scale (bulb regeneration), the proportion of regenerative scales (scale regeneration), and ion leakage from inner scales. Maximum storage duration based on bulb and scale regeneration varied between 2.9 and 4.0 years for the Asiatic hybrids and between 2.0 and 2.4 years for the other cultivars. Ion leakage of inner scales was increased for all cultivars at a storage duration of 3 years except for 'Enchantment' and 'Mont Blanc'. It was concluded that a lily collection can probably be effectively stored for 2 years at -2 degrees C in moist peat.