Effect of Different Methods of Canopy Management on Quality and Yield of Greenhouse Cut-Rose (Rosa hybrida  Habari')

The present study investigates the influence of different methods of canopy management on cut rose yield with respect to marketable quality, and compares it with the traditional system.Experiment was based on a randomized complete block design with three replications and was performed in a greenhouse in the vicinity of Tehran during one year. Treatments included types of pruning or bending of primary stem in combination with several harvesting heights. Measurment of developmental stage and growth variables (time to bud sprout, development time from bud sprout to harvest, length, diameter, fresh and dry weight of harvested flowers) was performed through the growth cycles. Results showed that the plants experiencing higher cut position yield 30% and 18% more flowers than the traditional system and the treatments in which the primary stem was pruned or bent at the base, respectively. Extra stems percentage was higher in the treatments with bending shoots when compared with pruned shoots in the traditional method (40% vs. 15%). There were no significant differences among all the treatments for grade 1, 2, and 3 flowers. Orthogonal comparison of treatment group 3 (bending primary stem above 3 buds) with treatment group 5 (bending primary stem above 5 buds) indicated that the number of days needed to bud sprout was higher in group 3 than in group 5. Number of the leaves and length of the stem left under the bending or pruning height may account for the observed results.