THE INFLUENCE OF TEMPERATURE ON FLOWER OPENING, VASE LIFE AND TRANSPIRATION OF CUT ROSES AND CARNATIONS

The cut flowers of rose cultivars (Rosa hybrida L. cv. Spinx, Bianca, First Red) and carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus L. cv. Ivonne, White Liberty, Indios) were kept in a growing chamber at 20 ^oC and 30 ^oC, respectively. The average flower diameter was measured daily in 5 replicates of each cultivar. The amount of transpired water was measured at the end of the experiment. There were signifficant differences in flower opening rate among the tested cultivars, influenced by the air temperature. At a temperature of 30 ^oC both roses and carnations lasted 5 days, while vase life was 10 days for roses and 8 days for carnations at 20 ^oC. However, the cultivars with shorter vase life transpired more water.

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