Postharvest quality of tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa) loose flower as affected by elecitor treatment

Abstract

Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.)is one of the most important commercial loose and cut flower crops grown in India and other countries. Its florets (loose flowers) retain their freshness only for a few days under ordinary condition. The objective of the present study was to investigate role of elicitors on shelf life and physiological traits in florets of tuberose cultivars Mexican Single, Prajwal and Sikkim Selection. There were ten treatments i.e., three elicitors (boric acid, salicylic acid and nitric acid) and their three concentrations (50, 100 and 200 ppm each) and a control (distilled water), replicated thrice in completely randomized design. The statistically analysed data revealed that in cvs. Mexican Single, Prajwal and Sikkim Selection the greater floret diameter retention (4.64, 5.00 and 5.39 mm, respectively), floret weight retention (0.65, 0.70 and 0.89g, respectively), relative water content (84.03, 81.97 and 88.86%, respectively) and membrane stability index (76.90, 77.32 and 79.81%, respectively) were obtained with treating of florets in 200 ppm boric acid solution. Significantly lower for above mentioned parameters were recorded under control treatment. Higher freshness index (5 for all 3 cultivars) and shelf life (5.1, 6.0 and 5.0 day, respectively) of florets were expressed with treatment of 200 ppm each of boric acid, salicylic acid and nitric acid solution and the lower values under control treatment. Total sample weight and physiological loss in weight of florets did not differ significantly by application of different treatments.