ISHS Acta Horticulturae 751: IV International Symposium on Rose Research and Cultivation
EVALUATING THE PRODUCTIVITY OF RED ROSE CULTIVARS IN SOILLESS CULTURE |
| Authors: | G. Fascella, G.V. Zizzo, S. Agnello |
| Keywords: | Rosa hybrida, varieties, hydroponics, lapillus, coir dust, bending technique |
| 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. | |
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