POSTHARVEST QUALITY EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT VASELIFE SOLUTIONS ON CUT ROSE (Rosa hybrida L.)

Abstract

Cut flowers last only for a few days maintaining their beauty and attractiveness. Thus, using appropriatepreservatives could extend the vase life of harvested flowers. The study aimed to prolong the postharvest quality andvase life of cut rose. The experiment was laid out in Completely Randomized Design with 5 treatments and 10replications (flowers). The treatments (vase solutions) were as follows: T1- Filtered water, T2- 0.02 M STS + 2 %Sucrose, T3- 0.02 M STS + 2 % Glucose, T4- 250 mg/L HQS + 2 % Sucrose and T5- 250 mg/L HQS + 2 %Glucose. All treatments were kept at 25 °C and quality was determined by recording the relative fresh weight (%),solution uptake, maximum flower head diameter (MFHD), blueing symptom, senescence flower and vaselife (days)after 4 and 6 days of holding. Results showed detrimental effects of vase solutions with silver thiosulfate (STS) incombination with sucrose and glucose after 4 days. However, hydroxyquinoline sulfate (HQS) vase solution withglucose maintained a vaselife of 4.5 days. Maximum flower head diameter was better with HQS vase solution withglucose (84.42 mm) after 6 days compared to filtered water (66.01 mm), but was statistically comparable with HQSvase solution with sucrose (82.34 mm). Generally, vase solution of HQS with glucose manifested better resultscompared to other treatments in terms of percent weightloss (26.62 %), maximum flower head diameter (84.42) andvaselife of 4.5 days after 6 days of holding.