Growth and Early Yield of Stenting-Propagated Domestic Roses Are Not Affected by Cytokinins Applied at Transplanting

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of cytokinins, known to have an effect on the delay of senescence in the plant, applied either to the shoot or the roots at transplanting on growth and early yield of stenting-propagated spray cut rose (Rosa hybrida Hort.) ‘New Man’ and ‘New Lady’ bred in Korea. Rooted plants, either not treated (control) or treated by foliar-spray (shoot treatment) or drench (root treatment)with 10 mg·L^-1 kinetin or 50 mg·L^-1 BA, were transplanted to rockwool slabs at 0 or 7 days after the treatment. Shoot length at the early stage of cultivation of ‘New Man’ but not ‘New Lady’ which was transplanted either at 0 or 7 days after treatment was slightly promoted in both foliar-spray and drench treatments of kinetin or BA. However, total cut flower yield in the first three harvests of both cultivars were not affected by either foliar-spray or drench treatment of either kinetin or BA. In the control treatment, total cut flower yield in the first three harvests of the plants transplanted at 0 day was greater than those transplanted at 7 days. These results suggested that stenting-propagated ‘New Man’ and ‘New Lady’ do not need any exogenous application of cytokinins. It is rather recommended that propagated plants are transplanted as soon as possible to avoid any senescence of the root.