Mehdi Abdolmaleki; Morteza Khosh-Khui; Saeid Eshghi; Asghar Ramezanian
Abstract
Rosa hybrida L. is an important commercial cut flower. Salicylic acid (SA) and calcium chloride (CaCl2) act as endogenous signal molecules responsible for growth parameters in plants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of preharvest SA and CaCl2 treatments in extending the vase life of ...
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Rosa hybrida L. is an important commercial cut flower. Salicylic acid (SA) and calcium chloride (CaCl2) act as endogenous signal molecules responsible for growth parameters in plants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of preharvest SA and CaCl2 treatments in extending the vase life of cut rose flowers. Therefore, a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with SA (0, 150, 300, and 450 mg L-1) and CaCl2 (0, 0.75, 1.5, and 2.25%) with 4 replicates and 2 samples (individual flowers) in each replicate, was conducted. Changes in growth, macronutrient concentration, chlorophyll content, leaf relative water content (LRWC), flower quality, vase life, and membrane stability index were investigated in R. hybrida cv. “Dolce Vita.” Exogenously applied SA and CaCl2 increased plant growth (such as shoots and flower buds). Foliar application of SA and CaCl2 also increased macronutrient concentration (N, K, Ca, and Mg), chlorophyll content, LRWC, flower quality, and vase life; however membrane stability index was decreased with increasing levels of SA and CaCl2. These results suggest that SA and CaCl2 could be used as potential growth promoters to improve postharvest life of roses. According to the results of this experiment, SA and CaCl2 as natural, cheap, safe, and biodegradable compounds are suitable alternatives for conventional chemical treatments in order to prolong vase life of cut rose flowers. Commercialization of these compounds for optimum formulations needs further experiments.
Nafiseh Geshnizjany; Asghar Ramezanian; Morteza Khosh-Khui
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of Nano-silver (NS), calcium chloride (CaCl2) and their combinations on Gerbera jamesonii ‘Carambole’ cut flowers. The experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design (CRD) with 10 treatments and four replications, with three ...
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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of Nano-silver (NS), calcium chloride (CaCl2) and their combinations on Gerbera jamesonii ‘Carambole’ cut flowers. The experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design (CRD) with 10 treatments and four replications, with three flowers in each replication. Treatments consisted of 5 mg L-1 NS, 1% and 2% CaCl2, 5 mg L-1 NS+ 1% CaCl2, 5 mg L-1 NS + 2% CaCl2, 0.1% and 0.2% CaCl2, 5 mg L-1 NS + 0.1% CaCl2, 5 mg L-1 NS + 0.2% CaCl2 and a control. It was revealed that CaCl2 postharvest spray, NS in a vase solution, as well as their combinations could significantly increase the vase life of gerbera flowers. The longest postharvest life of treated flowers was obtained from 5 mg L-1 NS and 5 mg L-1 NS + 1% CaCl2 treatments. The highest solution uptake was observed in 5 mg L-1 NS, 5 mg L-1 NS + 2% CaCl2 and 5 mg L-1 NS +1% CaCl2 treatments. Furthermore, application of NS and CaCl2 resulted in a reduced loss of relative fresh weight. The application of CaCl2 alone was able to increase all mentioned traits; however, this increase was less than 5 mg L-1 NS, 5 mg L-1 NS + 1% CaCl2 and 5 mg L-1 NS + 2% CaCl2 treatments. Additionally, in vitro cultivation and microscopic counting of microorganisms showed that microorganism growth at the end of flowering stems had been largely restricted by using NS solely or in combination with CaCl2.
