Salicylic Acid Enhances the Vase Life and Improves the Postharvest Attributes ¬¬— A Case Study of Antirrhinum majus L.

Abstract

Antirrhinum majus L. is one of the most significant ornamental plants in the international flower industry, but has a relatively limited vase life, as evidenced by petal abscission and flower spike bending. The current study focuses on examining the efficacy of salicylic acid on the vase life and postharvest attributes of A. majus flower spikes. The spikes with the oldest floral bud at one day before anthesis stage were harvested and divided into 4 sets, with one set of spikes held in distilled water (DW) designated as control. The remaining three sets were supplemented with various concentrations of SA viz., 1, 2 and 3 mM. Among the concentrations studied, 2 mM was found to be the most promising SA concentration for increasing the postharvest performance of flowers of A. majus cut spikes. The enhanced vase life of A.majus spikes was characterised by increased floral diameter, a higher membrane stability index and elevated levels of total phenols and sugars as compared to the control. SA has been proven to suppress protein degradation and lipoxygenase activity during the vase life of flower spikes. Furthermore, SA-treated flower spikes with enhanced postharvest properties were shown to have higher levels of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase activity.