Physiological effects of pruning in rose plants cv. Grand Gala

The effect of pruning in rose plants (cv. Grand Gala) was studied in different types of leaves, focusing on chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence, carbohydrates, ammonium content, nitrate reductase (NR) activity and biomass parameters. Results on pruned plants showed a higher maximum efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) of dark-adapted leaves, a higher actual quantum yield and a higher proportion of PSII reaction centres that are open, but a lower non-photochemical quenching, indicating a lower energy dissipation as heat, compared to non-pruned plants. These results related to Chl a fluorescence, indicate that pruned plants have a higher capacity for better promoting the photosynthetic light reaction than non-pruned plants. The increased nitrate reductase activity in pruned compared with non-pruned plants, can result from a higher photosynthetic activity resulting in a lower NH₄⁺ accumulation in leaves. Pruning promoted a large number of metabolic sinks (flower removal) that may cause depletion of stored carbohydrates flowing from lower plant parts (arched shoots) to the new developing flower shoots. However, although in a lower concentration, carbohydrate contents were sufficient to promote the development of new flower shoots since the yield was similar for pruned and non-pruned plants. However, pruned plants showed higher turgor than non-pruned plants.     

Effects of sink removal on leaf photosynthetic attributes of rose flower shoots (Rosa hybrida L., cv. Dallas)

Two experiments were conducted under greenhouse conditions to evaluate the effects of sink removal (flower shoot harvest and debudding) on the gas-exchange capacity (i) of leaves left on the parent shoot after flower shoot harvest and (ii) of flower shoot leaves after flower-bud removal. In the first experiment, gas-exchange measurements were performed on three 5-foliate leaves (leaf 1: uppermost parent shoot leaf, and two leaves inserted just below: leaves 2–3). It was found that, after bud sprouting, the leaf nearest to the young growing shoot (leaf 1) experienced a significant reduction in leaf maximum net CO₂ assimilation rate, A_lm, stomatal conductance, g_s, and transpiration rate, E_l, over time in comparison to the corresponding values observed for leaves 2–3. Leaf water use efficiency, WUE, significantly changed over time, while the ratio of leaf internal to ambient CO₂ concentration, C_i/C_a, was rather conservative throughout the entire shoot growing period. In the second experiment, leaf gas-exchange measurements were performed for adult flower shoots that were either debudded or left intact. Both types of shoots exhibited a similar along-shoot distribution pattern of physiological fluxes, g_s, and WUE. Bud removal did not significantly affect the magnitude of gas-exchange, with the exception of E_l. One week after bud removal, only slight differences were observed for A_lm, g_s and E_l between the two types of shoots. These results suggest (i) that the contribution of the uppermost parent shoot leaf to the assimilates demand of newly growing shoot significantly affects its photosynthetic capacity; and (ii) that flower-bud removal does not change the overall photosynthetic capacity of the flower shoot leaves, which divert the surplus of produced assimilates towards alternative sink organs and plant reserve pools.