Post-harvest longevity of ×Heucherella L. leaves after the application of benzyladenine sprayed on maternal plants

Abstract

Analyses were conducted on leaves of two <em>×Heucherella</em> L. cultivars: ‘Solar Power’ and ‘Kimono’. Leaves were harvested at two dates: spring (2014-05-22) and summer (2014-07-26). Prior to each leaf harvest day, the maternal plants were sprayed with benzyladenine (BA) at a concentration of 100, 300 and 600 mg dm<sup>−3</sup>. After being cut, the leaves were placed in containers with distilled water. In the cultivar ‘Solar Power’, BA at a concentration of 100–600 mg dm<sup>−3</sup> had an advantageous effect on post-harvest longevity of leaves harvested in summer, improving it by 31.7–98.3%, while in the cultivar ‘Kimono’ BA at the above-mentioned concentrations improved post-harvest longevity of leaves harvested both in spring and summer by almost 2 months. BA at a concentration of 100–600 mg dm<sup>−3</sup> inhibited proteolysis in leaves of the tested ×<em>Heucherella</em> cultivars, except for leaves of the cultivars ‘Solar Power’ and ‘Kimono’ harvested in summer from plants sprayed with BA at a concentration of 100 mg dm<sup>−3</sup>. In these leaves, the protein level was comparable to that in the control leaves. In leaves treated with BA at a concentration of 100–600 mg dm<sup>−3</sup>, the content of saccharides was higher than in the control plants harvested in the spring and summer.