Rose breeding

Rose Breeding

Any kind of flower breeding is a joyful thing but it also an uncertain, complicated and tedious processes. I have no intention of describing rose breeding elaborately here. Beside this when browsing in world wide web I have seen many useful articles and links on rose breeding (which I have given in the end of this page). Therefore, there is no need to repeat same kind of things here. My aim is just to describe rose breeding in simple way mainly through illustration for the beginner as well as I have tried to give some information on rose breeding in context of our weather.


Pollen plant preparation Mother plant preparation Crossing Time Collecting seed Storing seed Showing seed Showing seedling Budding
Breeding procedure
For rose breeding selection of mother plant and pollen plant/parent are very important. First select a plant which easily produce seed and has some desirable character then select a plant as a pollen parent which also have some desirable characters which you want to in your seedling. I have described breeding procedure below in three steps; To see different part of the flower click here


Preparation of Pollen parent /plant

Day before crossing--collect a flower in 1/2 to 3/4 bloom stage. Remove some petals from center and expose the anthers to receive adequate light and heat for maturity.		Keep the flower in glass and place it near a close window. Then it will be ready for use in next day. Longevity of rose pollen is quite well. So you will be able to use it safely next 3-5 days but in that case it is better to place flower in cool place.

On the day of crossing pick the flower from the glass.	Then remove rest of the petals.		Knock the flower carefully over a small plate.
For Pollination method-1 of just remove few more petals from the male flower--at the time crossing fold back rest of the petals.
* For an Article about Pollen preservation Click Here
Top
Preparation of Mother parent /plant

Select a flower of 1/2 to 3/4 bloom stage in the morning at the day of crossing .		Remove all petals carefully Don't twist flower neck

After removing the petal remove all the anther carefully.		Don't leave any anther or part of it

Place a poly bag over flower and label it
Top
Pollination/Crossing

Method-1		Method-2
Rub the anthers of male flower to the stigmas of female flower. This process is easy and time saving but less need comparatively more male flower.		Add collected pollen to the stigmas of female flower through brush. In this process you will need comparatively less male flower for pollination. But it is a time consuming process.

Place a poly bag over flower again and label it
Top

Time

The best time to start rose breeding in Bangladesh is mid December. You can continue breeding until mid February. Hips from late crossing don't mature properly--due to high temperature young hip easily crack --especially if you are growing roses in pots.

Fig: Rose Hip

Collecting Seed

It takes three to five months for ripping the hip. As hips mature they turn into yellowish green, orange or red depending on variety. When stalk turns yellow of a mature hip--collect them. Before ripping, some hips began to root due to harsh weather or attack of insect. At that case if the hip is mature-- collect seeds from that hip and preserve them.

Storing Hip/Seed

You can store hip/seed in two way:

First method: After collecting the hips leave them near window for 3-5 days. Then extract seeds from hip and dry the seeds thoroughly. Pack the seeds in polythene bag and store them in dry cool place.

Second method: Collect the hips and keep them in wet sand and store them in refrigerator. Extract the seeds from hip before showing.

Personally I follow the first method for preservation of hips which ripe early in the season and follow the second method for late season ripping hips.

Top

Showing Seed

The best time for showing seed in Bangladesh is October. For showing seed soil mixer will be:

Soil:	1 part
Cow-dung:	1 to 1.5 part

It is better not to use any chemical fertilizer. After 5-week seeds began to germinate and within 15-week most of the seed finish germination. Surprisingly once I have found a seedling which germinated after 7 months of showing.

Showing Seedling

Seedlings more than two inches (five centimeters) high are suitable for transplantation and May is the best time for that. For showing seeding soil mixer will be:

Soil:	3 part
Cow-dung:	2 to 3 part

It is better not to use any chemical fertilizer.

Budding

If your seedlings growth is well --you will be able to collect bud from them in January. It is good idea to bud some best seedlings at the same season to get early result. Normally budding is done in the next season.

Top

	Home Index Flower anatomy Mother plants E-mail
Copyright © 2001-2003 Shoaib. All rights reserved.