ROOTING AND GROWTH AFFECTED BY PHYSIOLOGICAL CONDITION OF THE STOCK PLANT FOR CUTTING PROPAGATION OF ROSES

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate rooting of rose cuttings and subsequent growth as affected by flower bud removal from the flowering stem at different flowering stages and flowering stem age (i.e., flowering stage of the flower bud) of the stock plant. After harvesting, each individual stem was cut into single node cuttings, each with a five-leaflet leaf and an axillary bud. Effect of flower bud removal from the flowering stem at different flowering stages on cutting propagation can be summarized as follows: In 'Sherbet', there were little differences in overall growth, suggesting no effect of the flower bud removal on rooting and subsequent growth. In 'Love Letter', as the flowering stage increased, shoot growth increased, while root growth decreased. Effect of flowering stem age (i.e., flowering stage of flower bud) on cutting propagation can be summarized as follows: In 'Sherbet', fresh and dry weight of the cutting increased with age of the flowering stem, while number of roots, fresh, and dry weight of the cutting and the root decreased. In 'Love Letter', root growth at the 3rd flowering stage were low, and chlorophyll content, fresh, and dry weight of the cutting increased, while shoot growth decreased, with age of the flowering stem. These results suggest that growth of rooted cuttings was significantly affected by physiological condition of the stock plant.