METHODOLOGY FOR COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF DECORATIVENESS IN GARDEN-PARK ROSES FROM MULTI-FLOWER AND COVER-GROUND FUNCTIONAL GROUPS UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF RUSSIAN HUMID SUBTROPICS

The paper suggests some approaches to a comprehensive assessment of the garden-park roses decorativeness based on the study of the biological characteristics of rose cultivars from multi-flower and cover-ground functional groups, growing in the Russian humid subtropics. Functional groups combine cultivars according to functional characteristics with emphasis on the decorative features in each cultivar rather than its origin. A comprehensive assessment of cultivars, taking into account belonging to a certain functional group, will allow them to be used purposefully in garden landscape of the region; it will also reduce time and financial costs to select cultivars possessing high decorative qualities, plentiful and long flowering and resistance to fungal pathogens.