Rose

We are going for budding Gladiator Rose which is in high demand for export and Dark Red rose which are in high demand in local market

Studies on the Influence of Rootstocks on the Vase Life of Rose Varieties

Rose is the foremost flower in international cut flower

trade and the demand for rose as a modern cut flower is growing enormously due to the development of tourism, hotel industry and urbanization. Most modern day roses are

propagated by budding and selection of the proper type of rootstock is the key to successful

rose growing, as the rootstock influences not only the vigour of the scion but also affects the productivity and flower quality (Pathar, 1978). Vase life is one of the important parameters to assess the quality of a cut flower. Keeping in view these ideas, the present experiment was carried out to determine the influence of rootstocks on the vase life of rose varieties budded

on different rootstocks.

Five scion varieties were used for the experiment, viz., Gladiator, Arjun, Sophia Laurence, Golden Times and Montezuma. Three rootstocks used were Rosa multifora, Rosa indica, and

Rosa canina. The rootstocks were made into cuttings and planted in the plot at a spacing of 60 cm x 60 cm according the treatments allotted. The rootstocks were allowed to grow till they attained shoots suitable for budding. Then, single canes of about 0.5 cm diameter were

selected and other shoots were removed. ‘T’ method of budding was done at a height of about 10 cm from the ground level and tied with polythene strips of about 1 cm breadth. At harvest, the buds whose calyx was completely reflexed with the outer petal just beginning to unfurl were cut. The cut ends were immediately immersed in tap water. In the laboratory, the stems were recut

under water to prevent the entry of air resulting in vascular blockage. Uniform stalk length was maintained. Two flowers were taken from each treatment and kept in conical flasks containing the different chemicals prepared to study the vase life.

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Aluminium sulphate (70 ppm)

In tap water, Gladiator recorded the maximum vase life followed by Sophia Laurence. Least vase life was recorded in Golden Times, which was on par with Montezuma. Among the rootstocks, the varieties budded on the rootstock R.canina recorded the maximum vase life, which was on par with those on those on R.multiflora and R.indica. The interaction between rootstocks and varieties also was not significant. However, R.multiflora recorded the least vase life. In sucrose 3% solution, Gladiator recorded the maximum vase life followed by Sophia Laurence, while Golden Times recorded the minimum vase life. Among the rootstocks, no significant difference was observed. However, the plants budded on R.canina recorded the maximum vase life, which was on par with those on

R.multiflora and R.indica. Gladiator budded on R.multiflora recorded maximum vase life, while Golden Times and Montezuma on R.indica recorded the minimum vase life in sucrose (3%) solution. Bhattacharjee (1998) reported that in Super Star roses, pulsing with 3% sucrose for 18 hrs at 20 C significantly prolonged the vase life, accelerated flower diameter, improved water uptake and increased TSS and RS content in corolla tissues. As a holding solution, sucrose extended the vase life for four days over control in field grown cut rose cv. Queen Elizabeth (Nagarajaiah et al., 1989). *Part of the M.Sc. (Agri) thesis submitted by the senior author to the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad-580 005, India

Karnataka Journal of Agricultural Sciences : 20 (1), 2007

Sophia Laurence recorded the maximum vase life among the five varieties in aluminium sulphate 70 ppm solution, while Montezuma recorded the minimum vase life. The influence of rootstocks and the interaction between rootstocks and varieties on vase life was not significant. However, the varieties budded on R.multiflora recorded the maximum vase life, which was on par with those on R.canina and R.indica. Sophia Laurence budded on R.multiflora recorded the maximum vase life, while Montezuma budded on the same stock recorded the minimum vase life in aluminium sulphate 70 ppm solution. Shobha and Gowda (1993) reported that aluminium sulphate (0.75 mM) showed an increase in vase life by 3.5 days over control with improved quality of cut roses. Mayak and Bar-Yosef (1972) showed that roses exposed to aluminium for 12 hrs had reduced bent neck and wilting.

Dark red roses spell passion. They are a bold expression of love, and yet they are captivating and enigmatic. Dark red roses have the aura of mystery though they leave virtually nothing unsaid.

There are those who believe in never expressing desire except by giving a bouquet of dark red roses to the person they fancy. And there are those, who present their paramours with them even if they have been in a relationship with them for years, simply to profess deep passion and the great longing. Even a single dark red rose can sometimes take an interaction to the level of a relationship. But a bouquet almost always has that effect.

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