Improvement of rose performance under treatments of bud pruning and branch bending in Avalanche rose variety

Managing the structure of the rose bush plays an important role in the production of roses throughout the year and determines the lifespan of the rose bush and affects the growth of the plant and the quality of the rose branches (length, diameter, and weight). Rose growers bend non-productive branches with the aim of increasing light absorption, producing more photosynthetic assimilates, and increasing the quality of the rose produced branches. In this study, the appropriate management of bud pruning of cut rose bushes was investigated with an emphasis on  branch bending. In order to select the best plant structure architecture in terms of producing the highest quality rose branches, a factorial experiment was conducted based on a completely randomized design with two treatments: bud pruning and branch bending. Bud pruning was performed at two levels: 50% bud pruning and no bud pruning, and in the stem bending treatment, the levels without bending were bent at angles of 45, 90, and 120 degrees. Physiological, morphological factors, and photosynthetic indices, as well as pot life, were investigated. The results showed that branch bending (45 and 90 degrees), by increasing light absorption and producing more photosynthetic assimilates and changing their flow from the shoots of bent branches to the shoots, caused their proper growth and a 30% increase in fresh weight and dry weight traits compared to the treatment without bending. Bud diameter and branch length of rose increased the quality of rose after harvesting. Also, the interaction between bud pruning and branch bending showed a positive effect on the carbohydrate content of rose branches.