Abstract
Seasonal variations in environmental conditions can have significant influence on flowering pattern and yield of roses. Evaluation studies were conducted to determine the flowering pattern and yield determinants of two Hybrid Tea rose cultivars in response to seasonal variations under rain-fed conditions. The 2 × 2 × 4 factorial experiment arranged in split plot design at three replications was conducted at two seasons (dry and wet) using two cultivars (cv. “Immaculate” and “P.H. Baby”, white and red flowers respectively) supplied with poultry manure (PM) application rates at 5, 10 and 20 t/ha where the unfertilized (0 t/ha) served as control. The result showed that the year two environmental conditions of both experiment I and II significantly improved plant height, number of leaves, number of buds (CNB) and opened flowers (CNF) and flower yield (FYD). “Immaculate” was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) taller with more leaves but thinner girth. Although generally lower in NF/NB, and not different in FYD, the “P.H. Baby” had more flowers (CNB and CNF) in experiment I. Except for no significant difference in FYD and lower NF/NB recorded by all manure rates compared to control in experiment II, plants treated with 5 t/ha PM recorded more flowers (CNB and CNF). Significant first and second order interaction effects (p ≤ 0.05) showed that “Immaculate” had taller height and more leaves but “P.H. Baby” had more CNB and CNF, although both were not different in FYD. In addition, plants supplied with 5 t/ha PM rates were better in plant height, number of leaves, CNB and CNF compared to other manure rates. In conclusion, year two environmental conditions supported better crop growth and yield, “Immaculate” grew better vegetatively but both were not different in floral yield, while the 5 t/ha PM was considered the optimum manure application rate under the rain-fed condition.
Highlights
Hybrid tea class (Rosa × hybrida) are selected varieties that are vegetatively propagated for selected traits such as flower bud and flower quality, stem length and vase life, and are grown by commercial flower growers for cut-flower market and for the domestic uses and industrial landscaping [1]
In Nigeria, in particular important production and commercial centres are located in the cosmopolitan city of Lagos in South West Nigeria, alongside other cities in the humid rain forest which include Calabar in South-East and Port-Harcourt in South-South, while other centres characterised by the drier savannah vegetation include Abuja and Jos Plateau both located in the Middle Belt zone
Significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) were obtained for manure influence where in experiment I and II, plants treated with both 5 t/ha and 10 t/ha poultry manure (PM) were taller and had more leaves in experiment I, but plants treated with 5 t/ha PM had thicker girth in experiment I, and taller height, thicker girth and more leaves in experiment II compared to those with 10 t/ha PM and other treatments (Table 3)
Summary
Hybrid tea class (Rosa × hybrida) are selected varieties that are vegetatively propagated for selected traits such as flower bud and flower quality (shape, colour and fragrance), stem length and vase life, and are grown by commercial flower growers for cut-flower market and for the domestic uses and industrial landscaping [1]. Cultivation and trade in the ornamental plants in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially Nigeria and West Africa are based mainly on garden plants production (80 percent), while the remaining 20 percent in form of cut-flowers are mainly for commercial decorations at special occasions and important ceremonies, but the aspect of gift packages due to less traditional recognition of the relative importance are often in the range of 1 - 3 percent of the total production. For the economic consideration in the attractive income and creation of job opportunities for the teeming youth could become a major player in the cut-flower production as gift packages in the near future. Floral intensity (flowers per shoot) increases with accumulated low temperatures, it could diminish with the presence of crop load and the occurrence of high temperatures, in which the latter may be related to sprouting of flowering buds [2]
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