Multiple -bulbed lillies. Picture by Suman Tamang

Darjeeling, Sept. 1: A scientist associated with the National Research Centre for Orchids, in Darjeeling has developed a technique that could revolutionise lily cultivation by enabling farmers to grow multiple bulbs from a single Easter Lily bulb.

The technique, developed by Ram Pal, involves treating the lily bulb with ethylene before it is planted.

The multiplication rate of a single bulb has been found to be 4.5, when 500ppm (parts per million) of ethylene was used and 7.75 when 1,000 ppm of ethylene was used.

“This necessary that 7 bulbs and around 10 bulb-lets can grow from a single lily bulb treated with 1,000 ppm of ethylene. All the bulbs can be used to grow different plants and this could be very useful to farmers because their expenditure is expected to go down substantially,” said Pal.

A single lily flower grows from a single plant and a stalk is sold at a price of Rs 7 in the local market. The same flower fetches more than Rs 13 in the international market.

“There is potential for farmers if they grow lilies in these areas, but they have not taken up cultivation in the hills. I know of only two or three farmers in Sikkim who grow lilies,” said Pal.

The researcher, said he was also trying the technique on seven other lily varieties, at the centre. “The results will, however, only be available later this year. Hopefully, the experiment will be a success,” said Pal. “In Darjeeling, we have around 190 species at our centre. Some of them are endangered species.”

It was found that the use of ethylene did not hamper the flowering of the plant. Plans are now afoot to try and cultivate the plant throughout the year.

The centre, which is under the aegis of the Indian Centre for Agricultural Research, New Delhi, is expected to have facilities for tissue culture and pack house for post handling facilities of cut flowers soon. The centre has also developed a technique for multi-use of bulbs of Cymbidiums orchids.