The formation of blind shoots and malformed flowers in rose plants grown under various temperatures and light intensities, and subjected to different cut back procedures has been studied.
Low temperature, low light intensity and low cut back promoted blind shoot formation. Hybrid tea cultivars are more sensitive for unfavourable temperature, light and cut back treatments than Floribunda cultivars. The process of floral abortion is initiated during the early stages of shoot growth before the differentiation of floral parts has been completed. Low temperatures (12–15°C) in this critical stage of development strongly promote blind shoot formation, but have no effect when stamen and pistil primordia had been formed in the apical flower bud.
The formation of malformed flowers, so‐called “bullheads”, which have significantly more petals than normal flowers, is also promoted by low temperature and low cut back. Light intensity seems to have no effect. Shoots subjected to low temperature (12°C) during the early stages of development, before the differentiation of the floral organs are fully completed, produce malformed flowers to a greater extent than shoots subjected to high temperature (18–24°C) during this period.
It is suggested that blind shoot formation in roses is subject to hormonal control.