THE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT FLORAL PRESERVATIVE SOLUTIONS ON KEEPING QUALITY OF CUT LISIANTHUS (EUSTOMA GRANDIFLORUM)

Abstract

To extend the vase life of cut lisianthus 'Mariachi Bleu Fonce' different floral preservative solutions were prepared using factorial combinations of different levels of sucrose, citric acid and aluminum sulfate. Sucrose concentrations were 0, 20, 40 and 60 g L -1 and citric acid and aluminum sulfate were each used at 0 and 160 mg L -1 . The results showed that the vase life of the water control was about 14 days whereas the vase life was about 27 days for cut flowers supplied with sucrose at 60 g L -1 . Application of citric acid decreased the vase life of cut lisianthus compared with the water control and aluminum sulfate had no significant effect on this trait. The relative water content of cut flowers treated with sucrose was higher than that of the water control during the vase period, indicating that sucrose treated cut flowers had lower water loss than the water control. Addition of citric acid reduced the relative water content of cut flowers but aluminum sulfate had no significant effect on the trait. The fresh weight of cut lisianthus decreased during vase treatment and the decrease was lower for sucrose treated cut flower than the water control. The petal color of cut flowers that were in the sucrose solution sustained during their life time also.