Growth, Yield and Quality of Rosa hybrida L. as

The effects of sodium chloride (NaCl) salinity (control; canal water with 0.4 dS m-1), 2.5 dSm-1, 5.0 dS m-1, 7.5 dS m-1 and 10.0 dS m-1, respectively) developed after 6 weeks of pruning (beginning of study) on plant growth, flowering and quality of three cut rose (Rosa hybrida L.) cultivars viz. ‘Kardinal’, ‘Angelique’ and ‘Gold Medal’ were studied to achieve better management, quality production and ascertaining salinity tolerance of promising cut roses being grown commercially in Pakistan. Plants were grown in pure sand in order to eliminate substrate salinity effect on plants. Number of leaves branch-1, leaf area, leaf total chlorophyll contents, bud diameter, flower diameter and flower quality were greater when plants were grown with canal water (control) having only 0.4 dS m-1 salinity, which also reduced interval between flushes by early flowering, while plant height, number of flowers plant-1 flush-1, fresh and dry weight of a flower, stem length and diameter were greater with 2.5 dS m-1 substrate salinity followed by canal water (control). Among cultivars, ‘Angelique’ proved comparatively more salt tolerant as compared with ‘Kardinal’ and ‘Gold Medal’ by producing vigorous growth and greater number of flowers. In summary, cut rose cultivars studied cannot tolerate higher substrate salinity and preferably be grown with < 2.5 dS m-1 NaCl substrate salinity.