Articles
EVALUATING THE PRODUCTIVITY OF RED ROSE CULTIVARS IN SOILLESS CULTURE
Article number
751_11
Pages
99 – 105
Language
English
Abstract
With the aim to evaluate the vegetative and productive behaviour of red rose cultivars on hydroponics, a two-year trial of soilless cultivation of 11 commercial varieties was carried out in Bagheria (Sicily, Italy), in unheated greenhouse with polyethylene cover.
Plants were grown into polypropylene containers filled with a mixture of volcanic lapillus and coconut coir dust (1:1, v/v), with a final density of 6.7 plants/m2. Productive (flowering period, yield trend, number of stems/plant, number of petals/bud) and quality parameters (stem length and thickness, bud height and diameter) were recorded.
Significant differences were observed in the production of flower stems: Red France and Dallas gave the highest cut flower yield at 24.8 and 24.1 flowers/plant, respectively, while Rock Star produced only 14.2 stems/plant.
The tested cultivars differed also in some qualitative characteristics: Dallas provided the longest (84.1 cm) and the thickest (0.78 cm) stems and the highest percentage (46.6%) of flowers with lengths >80 cm. Maira, had the earliest flowering (108 days after planting) and Red France produced stems with the maximum number of petals/bud (47.0). Results suggest that, in cold-greenhouse cultivation in western Sicily areas, with the choice of best-performing cultivars is possible to obtain a continuous high-quality production of red cut roses.
Plants were grown into polypropylene containers filled with a mixture of volcanic lapillus and coconut coir dust (1:1, v/v), with a final density of 6.7 plants/m2. Productive (flowering period, yield trend, number of stems/plant, number of petals/bud) and quality parameters (stem length and thickness, bud height and diameter) were recorded.
Significant differences were observed in the production of flower stems: Red France and Dallas gave the highest cut flower yield at 24.8 and 24.1 flowers/plant, respectively, while Rock Star produced only 14.2 stems/plant.
The tested cultivars differed also in some qualitative characteristics: Dallas provided the longest (84.1 cm) and the thickest (0.78 cm) stems and the highest percentage (46.6%) of flowers with lengths >80 cm. Maira, had the earliest flowering (108 days after planting) and Red France produced stems with the maximum number of petals/bud (47.0). Results suggest that, in cold-greenhouse cultivation in western Sicily areas, with the choice of best-performing cultivars is possible to obtain a continuous high-quality production of red cut roses.
Authors
G. Fascella, G.V. Zizzo, S. Agnello
Keywords
Rosa hybrida, varieties, hydroponics, lapillus, coir dust, bending technique
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