Comparisons of three popular rose (Rosa Hybrida L.) cultivars

Abstract

Two-year-old Rosa hybrida L. 'Royalty', 'Emblem', and 'Samantha' plants were pinched on 20 October 1992 for a Christmas crop and on 28 December 1992 for a Valentine's Day crop. All temperature set points were 22C/17C day/night. At 10 and 25 days after pinch, and at flowering, 5 shoots from each bench location were destructively sampled for leaf (node) number, stem length, stem diameter, and fresh and dry weights of stem, leaves, flower bud, and total. Time to visible bud, to color, and to flower from pinch were recorded as were number of flowers and blind shoots produced. Results were tabulated; an analysis of variance showed that the three rose cultivars produced flowers that were not significantly different but did vary as far as numbers of flowers produced and stem length. Seasonality also produced some differences. Based upon an analysis of variance on the 1992 Christmas crop, the study found no significant differences for flowering times, but found differences in numbers of both flowers and blind shoots produced. Based upon an analysis of variance for the 1993 Valentine's Day crop, the study also found no significant differences for flowering times, but found differences in number of flowers, but not number of blind shoots, produced and in stem length. Based upon an analysis of variance comparing the three cultivars, with the Christmas and Valentine's Day crops combined, the study showed differences in number of flowers produced and stem length. Based upon an analysis of variance comparing the Christmas and Valentine's Day crops (all three cultivars combined), the study showed no difference in number of flowers produced, more blind shoots at Christmas, and a longer and heavier Valentine's Day flower, although flowers took longer to reach maturity.