The effect of exogenous methyl jasmonate and brassinosteroid on physicochemical traits, vase life, and gray mold disease of cut rose (Rosa hybrida L.) flowers

Abstract

The Rosa hybrida L. is an attractive cut flower that has a short vase life due to the decrease in its quality during the post-harvesting storage. Therefore, the current study aimed to explore the effectiveness of pre-harvest MeJA and 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) application on different post-harvest quality characters, gray mold disease, and vase life of cut roses. The experiment was conducted as a split-plot in time based on a complete randomized design with three replications. The two experimental factors were included treatment [water, 0.1 and 0.2 µm of MeJA, 1 and 2 µm of EBR, Botrytis cinerea infection (Bot), 0.1 mM MeJA + Bot, 0.2 µM MeJA + Bot, 1 µM EBR + Bot, 2 µM EBR + Bot] and, sampling time (3, 7 and 10 days after harvesting). ANOVA showed that the effects of interaction between two factors were significant on catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, membrane stability index (MSI), anthocyanin, total soluble sugar (TSS), relative fresh weight, and water content (RFW and RWC), and cut roses vase life (P < 0.01). The results revealed that CAT and SOD activities, MSI, anthocyanin, TSS, RWC, and RFW were decreased, while the pre-harvest application of MeJA and EBR were enhanced the aforementioned traits and induced resistance against B. cinerea infection which led to increasing vase life of cut roses. Also, the application of 0.2 mM of MeJA were more effective to promote the quality and longevity of cut roses during the post-harvesting stage.