ROOTING OF CULTURED ROSE SHOOTS

Rooting of cultured shoots of rose cultivars was influenced by temperature during the multiplication and rooting phases and by auxin (IBA) in the rooting medium. With continued sub-culture of shoots an improvement in the rooting performance of a difficult-to-root cultivar was observed. Cellulose rods moistened with liquid medium were used successfully as a rooting medium and presented an alternative to agar. Experiments with simplified liquid media showed that sucrose and auxin (IBA) were the most important media components. Using low concentrations of fungicides, rose shoots were rooted in cellulose rods under non-aseptic conditions and subsequently established in compost.