Effect of Topophysis and Uniting Method of Rootstock and Scion on Rooting and Subsequent Growth of Stenting-propagated (Cutting-grafted) Roses

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of topophysis, and uniting method of rootstock and scion on rooting and subsequent growth of stenting-propagated cut rose (Rosa hybrida Hort.) in an effort to develop an efficient stenting propagation method for domestic rose cultivars. Four cultivars used in this study were two standard type cultivars 'Sweet Yellow' and 'Hanmaum', and two spray type cultivars 'Chelsi' and 'May'. Scions were grafted on cuttings of a rootstock Rosa indica 'Major'. The stenting-propagated scion-rootstock unions were planted in rockwool cubes (50 x 50 x 50 mm, Delta, Grodan, Denmark) and were placed in a graft-take chamber for five days before being placed on misted greenhouse beds. The rootstock was removed of all leaves and nodes. Both the base of scions and top of stocks were simultaneously cut at a 45 angle for grafting. Scions were prepared as single node cuttings, each with a five-leaflet leaf. Three positions of topophysis used were 7-9th (top), 4-6th (middle), and 1st-3rd (bottom) nodes from the stem base. Four uniting materials used were tube, tube + parafilm wrap, tube + clothespin, and clothespin. Rooting and growth were affected by the topophysis and cultivar. The best topophysis for rooting was 7-9th (top) nodes in all cultivars. Topophysis affected percent rooting, and number of roots, length of the longest root, and but not weight, shoot length and graft-take. Rooting and growth were affected by the uniting method and cultivar. Tube uniting method generally showed higher percentage graft-take, percent rooting, and number of roots than other methods. However, rootstock and scion union was not complete in this treatment. On the whole, the greatest rooting and subsequent growth of stenting-propagated plants were found in the tube + clothespin method. Except 'Sweet Yellow', rooting and growth were not adequate in the clothespin method. The results suggested that a tube + clothespin method was the most effective, and this method may be used as a substitute to save labor compared to a tube + parafilm wrap method which is currently being used in commercial nurseries.