Abstract
The experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of different chemical solutions (C1= sucrose (20%) + [Al2 (SO4)3 .-16H2O 300 ppm], C2= sucrose (20%) + [Al2 (SO4)3 .-16H2O] 300 ppm + GA3 50 ppm and C3= Control (Distilled water)) and five storage durations viz., (S0 = 0 days, S1 = 7 days, S2 = 14 days, S3 = 21 days and S4 = 28 days) on keeping quality of cut spikes of gladiolus ‘White Prosperity’. The results showed that chemical solutions as well as storage durations significantly influenced the studied parameters. Among the chemical solutions, C2 was significantly superior with regard to days to open basal floret, vase life, number of florets opened, floret size, longevity of open florets and fresh weight gain/loss, while the lowest values of these parameters were recorded in control treatment. Similarly, shorter storage durations of 0 days (S0) recorded higher vase life, longevity of open floret and total water absorption, while days to open the basal floret and floret size were superior in S3 storage and rest of the parameters were significantly higher in S2 storage duration. The spikes stored in S4 treatment did not open either pulsed with chemical solutions or in control. Key words: Aluminium sulphate, gladiolus, gibberellic acid, sucrose, storage duration, quality parameters.
Highlights
Gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus L.) is an important ornamental and commercial flower known as queen of the bulbous plants, belongs to Iridaceae family and is valued for its wide range of flower colours, attractive shapes, varying sizes, large number of florets per spike, excellent keeping quality and popular as cut flower in the domestic and international market
The results showed that chemical solutions as well as storage durations significantly influenced the studied parameters
C2 was significantly superior with regard to days to open basal floret, vase life, number of florets opened, floret size, longevity of open florets and fresh weight gain/loss, while the lowest values of these parameters were recorded in control treatment
Summary
Gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus L.) is an important ornamental and commercial flower known as queen of the bulbous plants, belongs to Iridaceae family and is valued for its wide range of flower colours, attractive shapes, varying sizes, large number of florets per spike, excellent keeping quality and popular as cut flower in the domestic and international market. Adding chemical preservatives to the holding solution is recommended to prolong the vase life of the cut flowers. Its application increases the vase life as well as the fresh weight (percentage of initial) of the cut flowers and prevent the growth of the microorganisms in xylem vessels of the cut flower stems and maintained water uptake and becomes more effective when sugars sucrose are coupled with it (Pun and Ichimura, 2003). The objective of this work was to investigate the effect of storage duration and chemical solutions on keeping quality of cut gladiolus ‘White Prosperity’ spikes especially when used for flower arrangements and interior decorations
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