PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGE ASSOCIATED WITH TUBEROSE CUT FLOWERS SENESCENCE IN RESPONSE TO ANTI ETHYLENE AND HOLDING SOLUTIONS

Abstract

Various postharvest treatments were evaluated for their effect on longevity and quality of cut Polianthus tuberose cv. Double, spikes which were harvested when the basal 4 flowers were opened. Spikes were pulsed in silver thiosulfate (STS) 1:4 mM, for 10 minutes at 24 °C. They were treated for 24 hours at 24°C with control (without treatment), 10 and 100 nI/L1 1-MCP. The flowers were stored for 0,3 and 5 days at 5°C then were placed in jars of a holding solution (500 ml) containing 30 g/I sucrose, 200 mg/I 8- hydroxyquinoline dtrate and 150 mg/I citric acid until the end of experiment. The results indicated that all pretreatments increased vase life compared with the control. The highest percentage of fully opened florets, fresh weight and water uptake were obtained in 100 WU' 1-MCP compared with the other treatments. The life of the flowers was significantly increased by inhibiting ethylene action using pretreatinent with either 1-MCP or silver thiosulfate (STS). 1-MCP was more effective than STS in maintaining flower quality. Increasing storage duration from 3 up to 5 days decreased vase life and flower quality. The flowers pretreated with 1-MCP at 100 n1/1:I then stored for 0 or 3 days produced the highest longevity and flower quality.