Rootstock effects on yield and mineral composition of rose cut flowers

Abstract: Performance of three rose cultivars First Red, Versilia, and Virginia was evaluated when were grown on their own roots and when grafted onto three rootstocks Rosa indica, Major; Rosa canina, Inermis and Rosa hybrida, Natal Briar in a plastic house. Yield, dry weight and mineral composition were investigated for two successive years. Scion rose cultivars especially on the rootstock Natal Briar produced more flowers/plant which was greatly dependent on the rootstock. The Natal Briar rootstock was superior to that of R. indica and R. canina rootstocks. In addition, more yields were obtained from plant combinations than cultivars grown on their own roots. Scion/rootstock combinations were superior to those grown on their roots with respect to dry weight percentage and nutritional status. Higher and efficient macro and microelement contents were found in shoot and root portions of plant combinations than in the cutting plants. There was no relation between the yield and the elemental status of the root tissues except for phosphorus. Furthermore, shoot and root dry weights were highly correlated to the yield/plant. Shoot dry weight was highly correlated to manganese, magnesium and phosphorus, respectively. While root dry weight was mainly correlated to the manganese, zinc, and magnesium. We conclude that rose yields can be improved through more uniform mineral distribution within the plant tissue by selecting efficient rootstocks to grow scion cultivars on them.