Farm management aspects of somatic embryogenesis for tulip bulb production

In order to produce new bulb varieties with better quality rapid artificial propagation methods are assumed to be necessary. Such propagation techniques are well known for the production of hyacinth, lilies, daffodils, dahlias but are not available on a practical basis for tulips. This study compares different artificial propagation techniques. The results are applied to the production of tulips under Dutch circumstances and the consequences for bulb production are studied with a production model for tulips (Valk and Gils 1990). The general conclusion is that artificial propagation has no revolutionary consequences for Dutch bulb production.