POSTHARVEST STUDIES ON CUT ROSE FLOWERS (Rosa hybrida, L. cv. First Red). 2-EFFECT OF SOME PRESERVATIVE SOLUTIONS ON FLOWER QUALITY, PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACATERISTICS AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITIONS OF STORED CUT FLOWERS

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Ornamental Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.

Abstract

This study was carried out at the Ornamental Horticulture Department, Faculty of
Agriculture, Cairo University, during the two successive seasons of 2005 and 2006 with
the aim of investigating the effect of preservative solutions and holding periods on the
longevity, physiological characteristics and chemical composition of rose flowers (Rosa
hybrida, L. cv. First Red) stored for 14 days at 2° C. Rose flowers were pulsed in a
solution containing kinetin at a concentration of 25 ppm + 8-Hydroxyquinoline at 150
ppm for 24 hours before storing for 14 days at 2º C and a relative humidity (RH) of 85-
90%. After that, the flowers were placed in jars containing one of the following
preservative solutions: (1) distilled water, (2) 2% sucrose (Suc) + 200 ppm 8-hydroxyquinoline
(8-HQ) + 250 ppm citric acid (CA), (3) 2% Suc+ 200 ppm 8-HQ + 250 ppm
CA + 2 mM 2-mercaptoethanol, (4) 2% Suc + 200 ppm 8-HQ + 250 ppm CA + 0.1%
Ca(NO3)2 , (5) 2% Suc + 200 ppm 8-HQ, (6) 2% Suc + 200 ppm 8-HQ + 100 ppm
CuSO4 or (7) 2% Suc + 200 ppm 8- HQ + 1 mM boric acid.
The results showed that the rate of increase in the flower diameter was decreased
steadily with time, also fresh weight of flowers and the rate of daily absorption of the
preservative solution were decreased after the 3rd day of holding the flowers in the
preservative solutions, while the respiration rate was decreased after the 6th day. On the
contrary peroxidase activity in the necks of flowers and stem bases were higher on the
12th day than on the 6th day. The total soluble sugars in the petals and leaves, the
anthocyanins and carotenoids in the petals, as well as the total chlorophylls and
carotenoids in the leaves, were lower on the 12th day than on the 6th day of holding the
flowers in the preservative solutions, whereas the total soluble phenols content in the
petals and leaves were higher on the 12th day than on the 6th day.
Most of the tested preservative solutions increased the flower quality and improved
physiological characteristics and chemical composition, compared to distilled water (the
control). The preservative solution containing 2% Suc + 200 ppm 8-HQ +2 mM 2-
mercaptoethanol + 250 ppm CA can be recommended for holding Rosa hybrida cv.
First Red flowers after storage for 14 days on 2° C, as it gave the best results in terms
of flower quality, physiological characteristics and chemical compositions, whereas using
the preservative solution containing 2% Suc + 200 ppm 8-HQ + 100 ppm CuSO4 resulted
in the lowest quality, as well as unacceptable physiological characteristics and chemical
compositions.


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