Vase life consequences of natural and chemical treatments in foxtail lily (Eremurus spectabilis), as a specialty cut flowers

Eremurus spectabilis is a new, commercially valuable specialty cut flower, but little is known about the applicable treatments to extend the vase-life and maintaining the ornamental quality of this flower. Therefore, the present study was aimed at investigating the impacts of nano-silver, essential oils, and chemical treatments on keeping ornamental quality and vase-life of cut inflorescences of Foxtail lily. The cut inflorescences were placed in different vase solutions containing salicylic acid (100 and 200 mg L-1), methyl jasmonate (25 and 50 mg L-1), silver thiosulfate (0.1 mM) plus isothiazolinone (0.001 and 0.005 mL L-1), nano-silver (5, 10, and 15 mg L-1), thymol (75 and 120 mg L-1), and menthol (75 and 120 mg L-1), which were applied as continuous and pulsing methods. According to the results, all treatments considerably improved the post-harvest performance of Foxtail lily cut flowers. Although there were no significant differences among nano-silver (NS) treatments, the cut inflorescences kept in vase solution containing 10 mg L-1 of NS exhibited the longest vase life (~14 days) and the best ornamental quality. Nano-silver treatment followed by silver-thiosulfate significantly improved solution uptake by flowering inflorescences, thereby delaying the water balance loss and keeping relative fresh weight. Furthermore, 50 mg L-1 methyl jasmonate- and 75 mg L-1 menthol-treated cut inflorescences exhibited significantly higher vase-life longevity by ~ 6 and 4 days, total soluble solutes by 28.38% and 19.12%, and solution uptake rate by 76.46% and 140.6%, respectively, as compared to control. Overall, 10 mg L-1 NS can be recommended as a commercial preservative solution to delay flower senescence and improve the vase life and keeping the quality of foxtail cut inflorescence.

Impact of Plant Growth Regulators on Post Harvest Life of Cut Flowers of Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii.B) cv. Goliath

The present investigation was carried out in premises of Biotechnology cum Tissue Culture Centre, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar during 2015-16 and 2016-17. The objective of the study was to standardize suitable bio regulators on post harvest life of gerbera cut flowers. Apart from control, eight treatments of growth regulators like Gibberellins (GA3) @ 100ppm and 150ppm; cycocel @ 700 ppm and 800 ppm with and without amino acid were used as foliar spray. In winter season percentage gain weight of flower stalk (19.95%), percentage gain in flower diameter (4.95%), solution uptake (33.17 ml) and vase life (13.83 days) were maximum with application of cycocel @ 700 ppm + Amino Acid while percentage gain in stalk length (1.28%) of flower in vase was maximum in Gibberellin @ 150ppm + Amino Acid. Similar trends in change in above post harvest parameters were also observed in summer and rainy season.

Comparison of Vase Life on Treatments with Combinations of Postharvest Solutions of Cut Hydrangea Flowers (Hydrangea macrophylla cv. ‘Verena’) in Distribution Stage

Vase life is one of the most important factors that determine the marketability of cut flowers and is greatly affected by the water balance. In recent years, cut hydrangea flowers are increasingly consumed as decorations for various events. However, the vase life of cut hydrangea flowers varies greatly depending on the postharvest solution management. Therefore, this study investigated the vase life, solution uptake, water balance, and relative fresh weight of freshly harvested hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Verena’) according to the three types of holding solutions (tap water, 1% chrysal professional Ⅲ (CPⅢ), 2% sucrose + 250 mg/L 8-hydroxquinoline + 100 mg/L citric acid (SHQC)) and the combination solutions (pretreatment; tap water, 0.1% chrysal RVB (RVB), floralife quickdip (FQ), transport; tap water, CPⅢ, floralife clear (FC), preservatives; CPⅢ, FC) for each distribution stage (pretreatment-transport-consumer). In the preservative comparison experiment, compared with the control, CPⅢ treatment and SHQC treatment significantly increased the vase life in 2019 (0.7 days, 3.4 days) and 2020 (1.4 days, 3.1 days), respectively. In the comparative experiment by solution combination, the group (RVB, FQ) using the pretreatment significantly extended the vase life by 4.6 days and 5.9 days compared to the tap water treatment. It was also determined that the same treatment increased overall solution uptake, maintained water balance longer, and increased relative fresh weight. These results confirm the importance of holding solutions and pretreatments, suggesting that appropriate pretreatments and preservatives should be used to improve the marketability of cut hydrangea flowers.

Preservative solutions on vase life and quality of cut Polianthes tuberosa L.

ABSTRACT This experiment was conducted to study the effectiveness of different preservative solutions on vase life and quality of angelica cut inflorescences cv. Single. The concentrations of citric acid at 100, 200 and 300 mg L-1, sucrose at 3% and 4% and H2O2 at 0.1%, 0.2% and 0.3% were used as preservatives, while distilled water was used as control. The single factor experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. Citric acid and H2O2 solutions effectively inhibited bacterial growth-related blockage in the vascular tissues, but had adverse effects on the vase life. The inflorescences stored in sucrose (3% and 4%) solutions remained fresh up to 10 days after preservation (DAP), maintaining good solution uptake, controlling transpiration loss and gaining higher relative fresh weight. Different quality parameters like floret diameter and number of opened florets were also significantly higher in inflorescences preserved in sucrose (3% and 4%) solution, followed by control, citric acid and H2O2, respectively, in different DAP. Overall, the inflorescence of cut tuberose preserved in sucrose, particularly at 4% solutions, showed better postharvest quality than other preservatives and maximum vase life.

EXTENDING VASE LIFE OF CUT Strelitzia reginae Aiton FLOWERS BY COBALT CHLORIDE, CERIUM NITRATE, SILVER NANOPARTICLES AND NANOSIL

Cut flowers of Strelitzia reginae Aiton (Strelitziaceae) generally have a short vase life. Vascular blockage is a major reason for this. In this paper, we evaluated the effects of pulse treatment with disinfectants including cobalt chloride (CoCl2), cerium nitrate (Ce(NO3)3), silver nanoparticles (SNP) and Nanosil on the vase life and physiological characteristics of cut S. reginae flowers stems. Cut flowers kept in the vase solution containing these disinfectants showed significant increase in solution uptake, the content of total protein and pigments of petals, the activities of antioxidantive active enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). Also, the number of stem-end bacteria and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in cut flowers were decreased as compared to control. Based on obtained results, we introduce Ce(NO3)3 as the most effective treatment to extend the vase life of cut S. reginae flowers. More so with the concentration of 300 µM which induced the maximum solution uptake and SOD and APX activities that resulted in the longest vase life. Findings of the present study suggested that Ce(NO3)3 prolonged postharvest longevity of S. reginae by increasing the solution uptake and SOD and APX activity and decreasing the MDA content. The use of Ce(NO3)3 reduces the use of chemicals and make saving in costs. The highest bacterial population of micro-organisms on cut stem ends were Escherichia coli, Bacillus, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus. Cerium nitrate had the strongest effect on reduction of these bacterial population and yeast.

Pre-harvest spray of GABA and spermine delays postharvest senescence and alleviates chilling injury of gerbera cut flowers during cold storage

Short vase life, capitulum wilting, neck bending, and postharvest chilling injury (CI) are major disorders have negative impact on quality and marketing of gerbera cut flowers. Low storage temperatures prolonging the vase life, but on the other hand leads serious CI which decreases the quality and consumer preferences. Spermine (SPER) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were identified as anti-aging factors delay the senescence and elevate the chilling tolerance in many species. Greenhouse-grown gerbera cv. ‘Stanza’ sprayed with 2 mM SPER and 1 mM GABA twice (2 T) or thrice (3 T). Cut flowers were stored at 1.5 °C and 8 °C postharvest to study the effects of GABA and SPER on senescence and CI. Vase life, CI and quality of cut flowers were improved by GABA and SPER treatments. No CI was observed in GABA-treated flowers at 1.5 °C; while, flowers sprayed with water showed severe CI. GABA treatments efficiently prolonged the vase life for 6–7 days more than the control (15 days). GABA and SPER increased the fresh weight, solution uptake, protein and proline contents, catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase activities, while decreased the electrolyte leakage, H2O2, and malondialdehyde contents, polyphenol oxidase, lipoxygenase, and phospholipase D activities. GABA and SPER significantly prolonged the vase life and prevented degradation of proteins and chilling damage and increased capacity of detoxifying and scavenging of H2O2 and reactive oxygen species (ROS), led to alleviate the negative consequences of the senescence and CI.

Extracts of herbs and alcohol increase vase life of Dianthus caryophyllus L. cv 5 ‘Yellow Candy’

Some chemicals such as 8-HQS used for prolonging the vase life of cut flowers are harmful to human health. Therefore, it is necessary to identify natural compounds to delay senescence and tissues destroying of cut flowers. Essential oils with antimicrobial properties can have a significant effect on the vase life of cut flowers without any problems. The effect of dill (<em>Anethum graveolens</em>), geranium (<em>Pelargonium graveolens</em>) and caraway (<em>Cuminum cyminum</em>) essential oils and alcohol on the vase life of <em>Dianthus caryophyllus</em> L. cv ‘Yellow Candy’ were investigated. Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis of the essential oils showed that the highest percentage of essences in geranium (13.03 %), caraway (26.05 %) and dill (52.23 %) were geraniol, methyl-3-phenyl-2-propenal and linalool, respectively. Vase life was increased to 15.43 and 15.11 by using 100 mg·L^-1 dill and 50 mg·L^-1 28 geranium essential oil solutions, respectively. Solution uptake (2.18 mL·g^-1 FW) and the activity of catalase (1.78 µg·g^-1 29 FW) were also highest in 100 mg·L^-1 dill essential oil solution compared to distilled water (1.07 mL·g^-1 30 FW and 0.90 µg·g^-1 FW, respectively). In conclusion, the 2 % alcohol, 100 mg·L^-1 dill, 50 mg·L^-1 31 geranium, and 100 mg·L^-1 32 cumin induced the highest vase life. Therefore, dill essential oil (at a concentration of 100 mg·L^-1 33 ) is introduced as the most appropriate, effective and safest treatment.

The effect of some solutions on the vase life of star flowers

This study was carried out on the flowers of 'Le Castel' Dahlia (starflower) cultivated in Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University Agricultural Research and Application Center in 2019. The study aimed to prolong the vase life of Dahlia flowers used as cut flowers. Deionized water (control), sucrose + deionized water, thyme oil, lavender oil, carvacrol, thymol, sodium hypochlorite, and gibberellic acid were used as vase solutions. The total vase solution uptake (g/stem), daily vase solution uptake (g/day fresh weight (FW)), proportional FW (%) and vase life (day) parameters were determined based on Dahlia flowers that harvested at different harvest stages (3, 4 and 5 layers). As a result; the most extended vase life was measured in the gibberellic acid treatment (8.22 days), the highest proportional fresh weight was measured in the carvacrol in the 6th day (139.78%), the highest daily solution uptake was measured in the thyme oil in 0-2 days (11.7 g/day FW) and the highest total solution uptake was measured in the thyme oil (27.5 g/stem). It was concluded that the vase life of earlier harvested flowers was longer than of late harvested.

Lanthanum delays senescence and improves postharvest quality in cut tulip (Tulipa gesneriana L.) flowers

We tested two sources of lanthanum (La), LaCl3 and La(NO3)3 × 6H2O at a concentration of 40 µM each, in the treatment solution of cut flowers of 15 tulip (Tulipa gesneriana L.) cultivars. Ascorbic acid (AsA; 0.2 g/L) was used as a reference solution, while distilled water was evaluated as an absolute control. With both La sources, bud length and diameter, and stem length were increased; as a result, stem curvature was also significantly increased with La treatments. The cultivars Laura Fygi and Rosario registered the highest relative stem elongation. Lalibela and Acropolis displayed the greatest stem curvature on the last day in vase. At 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 days after cutting, the highest solution uptake was recorded in flower stems treated with LaCl3, surpassing the control by 5, 11, 15, 18 and 24%, respectively. The relative stem elongations observed were 21.3, 27.4, 35.2 and 35.5% in the control, AsA, LaCl3 and La(NO3)3, respectively. The mean solution uptake per gram of stem fresh biomass weight was 1.44, 1.44, 1.71 and 1.54 mL in the control, AsA, LaCl3 and La(NO3)3, respectively. LaCl3 significantly increased the bud length and solution uptake of flower stems, while La(NO3)3 × 6H2O increased stem fresh weight.

EXTENDING THE VASE LIFE OF CUT HYDRANGEA FLOWERS BY PRESERVATIVE SOLUTIONS

Vase life is one of the most important factors determining the marketability of cut flowers and influenced by water balance strongly. In recent years, the consumption of hydrangeas as a cut flower has gradually increased. However, the vase life of cut hydrangea flowers is short depends on wilting. Thus, this study was conducted to determine the effects of different treatments [thymol (100, 150 and 200 mgL–1), 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate (8-HQS) (200 mgL–1)], and their combination with and without 1% sucrose on the vase life, relative fresh weight, daily (solution uptake for 3 days) and total solution uptake of hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Green Shadow’) harvested freshly. Distilled water was used as the control. Compared to the control, thymol 150 mgL–1 treatment with 1% sucrose significantly increased the vase life of hydrangeas flowers in 5.80 days (from 10.7 to 16.5 days). It was also determined that same treatment increased the total solution uptake and delayed relative fresh weight loss. These results indicated that thymol treatments in combination with sucrose can be used to extend the vase life of cut hydrangea.