The vase life and quality of cut Gerbera jamesonii cv. 'Rosalin' flowers are affected by natural essential oils (in normal and nano forms) and nano-silver particles

Abstract

Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii, Asteraceae), is a perennial important commercial cut-flower crop. A major problem of gerbera cut flowers is short vase life mostly due to neck bending amongst other factors. This study aimed to screen the effects of the essential oils of thyme, clove and caraway in addition to nano-silver particles on vase life and on some parameters of gerbera cv. ‘Rosalin’ cut flowers. A factorial experiment was carried out with essential oils as first factor (in normal form at 25 and 50 mg/L) and Nano-silver as second factor (at 5 and 10 mg/L) in addition of distilled water as control. The measured traits were: vase solution uptake, relative fresh weight, flower vase life, neck bending, enzyme activity of polyphenol oxidase and catalase, anthocyanin pigment and phenols. Results indicated that essential oils have significantly affected vase life and vase solution uptake positively and reduced neck bending. The most effective treatments were caraway and clove oils in normal form at 50 mg/L and 25 mg/L, respectively. Similarly, a significant increase was observed on catalase. Whereas, nano-silver particles had an insignificant effect on neck bending. Still, a significant effect was detected on vase life and solution uptake.