Effects of Rest Period Length and Forcing Temperature on Yield, Quality and Vase Life of cv. Mercedes Roses
Year: 2002
Type: article
Abstract: Young rose plants cv. Mercedes were grown either year-round or by interrupting the growing period in winter with a rest period of 2 or 6 weeks at 2°;C. In fast start of forcing the temperature was immediately raised to 20°;C for 2 weeks, whereas in slow start of forcing the temperature was kept at 8°;C during the first week, at 13°;C during the second and thereafter at 20°;C. The growing temperature was 17°;C and the photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) was either 100 or 65 w mol m -2 s -1 20 h day -1 . The lower PPF was tested only in fast forcing. Production with a rest period did not reduce the yield compared with year-round production. An interaction between rest period length and forcing rate on yield and quality was observed. Fast forcing at 100 w mol m -2 s -1 PPF resulted in a higher yield than did slow forcing at 100 w mol m -2 s -1 and fast forcing at 65 w mol m -2 s -1 PPF after a 6-week rest period. Plants with 2 weeks' rest, however, gave a higher yield with slow than with fast forcing at both PPF. Irradiance of 65 w mol m -2 s -1 PPF combined with a 6-week rest and slow forcing impaired flower quality. Vase life, when expressed as mean values, did not differ between treatments, but the proportion of cut flowers with a short vase life was higher after 6 than after 2 weeks' storage.
Author: Liisa E. Särkkä
Institution: Agrifood Research Finland
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W1990992667