The spring orchid (Cymbidium goeringii) is one of the most
popular terrestrial species indigenous to temperate Eastern Asia.
This species is an evergreen perennial orchid with below-ground
pseudobulbs as well as long, grass-like leaves, and blooms in
early spring. Its flower can last for one month. In China, spring
orchids have been cultivated for more than 10 centuries because
of their variegated leaves, fragrant flowers, and peloric flower
structures [1]. A large number of novel cultivars of spring orchid
have beenproduced via inter-specific hybridization and selection of
mutations during vegetative propagation in the past century [2].
However, 5e7 years elapse from the hybridization to flowering of
F1 because spring orchid has a long juvenile phase for developing
vegetative organs. For many years, some cultivation practices such
as shading/lighting and temperature control have unpredictable
effects on flowering in spring orchid [2]. Therefore, the shortening
and regulation of flowering time is one of the most important
breeding aims in spring orchid. For C. goeringii “Cangyansu,” flower
induction occurs in June and flower initiation in late July (Hang-
zhou, China) when the pseudobulbs start to form flower buds.
However, there is little knowledge on the timing of flower induc-
tion and genetic factors involved in the transition to flowering in
spring orchid