Production and leaf plasticity of rose plants sprayed with paclobutrazol and daminozide

Abstract

The aim of this work was to evaluate morphological and anatomical alterations in leaves of ‘Yellow Terrazza’® and ‘Red White Terrazza’® pot roses sprayed with paclobutrazol (0, 40, 60, 80 mg L-1) and daminozide (0, 2000, 4000, 6000, 8000 mg L-1). The experiments were conducted under greenhouse conditions using a factorial treatment design (cultivars x growth retardant doses) with five replications and experimental units arranged in randomized blocks. Cv. Yellow Terrazza ® presented higher plants, greater floral diameter and leaf area than cv. Red White Terrazza ®. Plant height, leaf area, and flower diameter decreased linearly with paclobutrazol and daminozide doses. In addition, paclobutrazol and daminozide applications changed leaf tissue proportions by increasing the thickness of leaf blade, mesophyll, palisade parenchyma, and spongy parenchyma but did not influence the thickness of leaf epidermis.