RED TO FAR-RED RATIO IN HIGH-PRESSURE SODIUM LIGHTS AFFECTS YIELD IN ROSES

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to determine whether the high R:FR ratio in high pressure sodium (HPS) lamps contributes to lateral bud breaking in roses. Rosa hybrida cv. `Samantha' plants were grown under HPS lamps, HPS lamps fitted with blue gel filters to reduce the R:FR ratio or metal halide lamps. Spectral graphs showed R:FR ratios of 1.05, 0.5 and 3.8 for HPS, filtered HPS and metal halide respectively. Although the R:FR ratio in metal halide was notably higher than in HPS the total energy in this range was much lower. At a 24hr supplemental PPF level of 70-75uEm-2s-1 more flowering shoots were produced under HPS and metal halide lighting than under filtered HPS. There were more dormant shoots under the filtered HPS. No differences in quality were found among flowers from any treatment.