The cut-flower industry is witnessing rapid growth, with tropical ornamentals such as Heliconia commanding premium value for their vivid inflorescences and long vase life. Among production factors, light environment and propagule size critically influence growth and floral quality, yet their interactive effects remain poorly understood under Indian conditions. This two-year pot experiment (2022-2024) was conducted on the terrace garden of the Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University, Bhubaneswar, to evaluate the response of Heliconia psittacorum ‘Golden Torch’ to two light intensities (open sun, 100 %; 50 % shade net) and three rhizome sizes (single-, double- and triple-node cuttings) in a factorial completely randomised design with four replications. Results revealed that full sun accelerated sprouting (17.15 days vs 19.47 days), enhanced vegetative-to-flowering shoot conversion (136.8 % vs 105.1 %) and produced more spikes per clump (3.68 vs 3.30) as compared to 50 % shade net. In contrast, 50 % shade significantly improved floral quality, with longer inflorescences (24.23 vs 19.03 inch), longer stalks (18.30 vs 14.94 inch), higher chlorophyll content (6.82 vs 5.09 mg cm-2) and prolonged spike longevity (16.2 vs 10.3 days) than open sun (100 %). Propagule size strongly influenced performance: triple-node rhizomes (P₃) produced the tallest plants, the largest leaf area (1009 cm²), the maximum spikes (4.66 clump-1) and superior physiological efficiency. Notably, the P₃ rhizome under protected conditions yielded the highest-quality spikes, while double-node rhizome under open conditions promoted earliness and higher spike numbers. The study concluded that growers targeting export markets should adopt 50 % shade with P₃ rhizomes for premium floral quality, whereas full-sun culture with double-node cuttings is better suited for rapid turnover in domestic markets. These findings provide the first evidence-based recommendations for optimizing Heliconia production under coastal Odisha conditions and can guide future commercial scale-up.

Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) is a noncontact camera-based technique that enables deep learning models to learn various plant conditions by detecting light reflectance under illumination. In this study, we investigated the effects of four light sources—halogen (HAL), incandescent (INC), fluorescent (FLU), and light-emitting diodes (LED)—on the quality of spectral images and the vase life (VL) of cut roses, which are vulnerable to abiotic stresses. Cut roses ‘All For Love’ and ‘White Beauty’ were used to compare cultivar-specific visible reflectance characteristics associated with contrasting petal pigmentation. HSI was performed at four time points, yielding 640 images per light source from 40 cut roses. The results revealed that the light source strongly affected both the image quality (mAP@0.5 60–80%) and VL (0–3 d) of cut roses. The HAL lamp produced high-quality spectral images across wavelengths (WL) ranging from 480 to 900 nm and yielded the highest object detection performance (ODP), reaching mAP@0.5 of 85% in ‘All For Love’ and 83% in ‘White Beauty’ with the YOLOv11x models. However, it increased petal temperature by 2.7–3 °C, thereby stimulating leaf transpiration and consequently shortening the VL of the flowers by 1–2.5 d. In contrast, INC produced unclear images with low spectral signals throughout the WL and consequently resulted in lower ODP, with mAP@0.5 of 74% and 69% in ‘All For Love’ and ‘White Beauty’, respectively. The INC only slightly increased petal temperature (1.2–1.3 °C) and shortened the VL by 1 d in the both cultivars. Although FLU and LED had only minor effects on petal temperature and VL, these illuminations generated transient spectral peaks in the WL range of 480–620 nm, resulting in decreased ODP (mAP@0.5 60–75%). Our results revealed that HAL provided reliable, high-quality spectral image data and high object detection accuracy, but simultaneously had negative effects on flower quality. Our findings suggest an alternative two-phase approach for illumination applications that uses HAL during the initial exploration of spectra corresponding to specific symptoms of interest, followed by LED for routine plant monitoring. Optimizing illumination in HSI will improve the accuracy of deep learning-based prediction and thereby contribute to the development of an automated quality sorting system that is urgently required in the cut flower industry.

An attempt has been made to construct non-parametric stability index, based on 36 different China aster lines evaluated during 2021-2023. Individual trait based parametric stability measures revealed differential ranking of lines across characters. Results based on the combined non-parametric stability measures computed, line 15-41-3, followed by 15-41-1 and 15-41-16 were identified as stable across three years for all the traits evaluated (plant height (cm), plant spread (cm), number of branches per plant, flower diameter (cm), number of flowers per plant, stalk length (cm), and vase life (days). This research calls for constructing non-parametric index for assessing the stability of set of lines collectively based on various traits, evaluated over seasons/years in an experimental set up to have a realistic assessment in studies related crop varietal release.

A Research was conducted on “Influence of Zinc nano-particles and bulb size on the growth and flower production of tuberose” at the Ornamental Horticulture Nursery, Department of Horticulture, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, during the year 2023. The Experiment was conducted in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The treatments were repeated three times in field. Factor A included the bulb sizes, which was 20 mm, 30 mm and 40 mm in diameter and Factor B had different concentrations of zinc nano-particles Zn (NPs), which were 0, 150 mgl-1 zinc sulphate, 50 mgl-1 Zn (NPs), 100 mgl-1 Zn (NPs), and 150 mgl-1 Zn (NPs). As per experimental findings, bulb sizes and Zn (NPs) concentration had significantly affected most of the attributes. Interaction between bulb size and Zn (NPs) was found significant for two parameters such as fresh florets weight and dry florets weight. The results of bulb sizes revealed that highest number of leaves plant-1 (24.02), plant height (107.73 cm), leaf area (577 cm2), chlorophyll content (64 SPAD), number of florets (35.1), highest florets fresh and dry weight (8.3 and 4.1g), vase life (8.8 days), bulb weight (39 g) and bulb size (36 mm) in tuberose plants having bulb size 40 mm. While maximum days to spike emergence (83.7), days to first florets opening (98.03) and days to last floret opening (101.47) with minimum number of leaves (18.8), plant height (97.20 cm), leaf area (467 cm2), chlorophyll content (54 SPAD), number of florets (23.5), lowest florets fresh and dry weight (4.9 and 2.4 g), vase life (8.1 days), bulb weight (34 g) and bulb size (30 mm) were noted in tuberose plants having bulb size 20 mm. In case of Zn (NPs) concentration, the maximum number of leaves (26.4), plant height (114.89 cm), leaf area (554 cm2), chlorophyll content (66.3 SPAD), number of florets (37.0), highest florets fresh and dry weight (8.6 and 4.4 g), vase life (11.5 days), bulb weight (51 g) and bulb size (42 mm) was recorded in tuberose plants treated with 150 mgl-1 of Zn NPs. On the other hand, minimum leaves (13.7), plant height (83.33 cm), leaf area (488 cm2), chlorophyll content (57.6 SPAD), least number of florets (23.3), lowest florets fresh and dry weight (4.7 and 2.4 g), vase life (6.4 days), bulb weight (25 g) and bulb size (24 mm) were observed in plants treated with distilled water (control) plants. It is concluded that foliar application of Zn (NPs) at 150 mgl-1 proved optimum concentration for better growth and flower production with higher quality florets in tuberose. Among various bulb sizes, the plants of tuberose raised from 40 mm bulbs were superior for all the studied attributes as comparted to plants grown from 20 and 30 mm bulbs.

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of sucrose and antioxidant-based vase solutions on postharvest longevity and water relations of Gypsophila (Gypsophila paniculata L.) cv. Star World under ambient conditions (25 ± 2°C; 40-50% RH). Fourteen postharvest treatments, including sucrose (2%), ascorbic acid (100 and 200 ppm), potassium metabisulphite (100 and 200 ppm), calcium chloride (25 and 50 ppm), and their combinations, were evaluated in a Completely Randomized Design with three replications. Significant differences were observed among treatments for water uptake (WU), transpirational loss of water (TLW), optical density of vase solution (ODVS) and relative water content (RWC), and vase life. The combination T11 (Sucrose 2% + KMS 200 ppm) recorded the highest mean water uptake (31.42 g flower⁻¹), maximum TLW (35.02 g flower⁻¹), lowest ODVS (0.044), highest RWC (103.14%), and maximum vase life (16.83 days), followed by T10 (Sucrose 2% + KMS 100 ppm) and T9 (Sucrose 2% + AA 200 ppm). The control treatment exhibited the lowest values for all measured parameters and the shortest vase life (8.83 days). Results indicate that sucrose combined with potassium metabisulphite or ascorbic acid is highly effective in maintaining solution clarity, enhancing water relations, reducing senescence, and extending longevity. The study demonstrates that carbohydrate antioxidant synergy is vital for improving postharvest quality of Gypsophila under ambient storage conditions.

Quality and longer vase life are the most important factors in cut flowers, while chemicals are the reliable ones for enhancing both. To prevent chemical usage, the study was undertaken to evaluate biostimulants for enhancing the vase life of cut flowers. Eleven different treatment combinations of bio-stimulants were used in this experiment to study their effect in enhancing the vase life of chrysanthemum, where extracts of aloe vera, Ocimum gratissimum leaves, lemon juice, Mentha piperita leaves and Moringa olerifera leaves were used at 2 % and 4 % concentration along with 2 % sucrose. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design replicated thrice and in each treatment, 10 flowers were used. Chrysanthemum var. Snowball was used in this experiment. Lemon juice at 4 % + Sucrose 2 % (B7) recorded the maximum vase life (14.94, 15.15 and 15.05 days was observed in B7 in Y1, Y2 and pooled respectively), the best antimicrobial activity by recording the minimum count of microbial colonies (43.33 × 104, 56.67 × 104 and 50.00 × 104 CFU/mL in B7 in Y1, Y2 and pooled respectively), maximum total vase solution uptake (15.76 and 15.53 g in B7 in Y1 and pooled respectively) of chrysanthemum var. Snowball during the post-harvest period. A correlation study demonstrated that maintaining an acidic vase solution helped in suppressing microbial growth and this combined effect enhanced a longer vase life. From the study, it could be recommended that lemon juice at 4 % + sucrose 2 % effectively enhanced the post-harvest life of chrysanthemum.

Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii L.) is a high-value ornamental crop increasingly cultivated under soilless systems in Jordan. Optimizing calcium (Ca) supply is essential in these systems, where limited substrate buffering, high transpiration demands, and nutrient antagonisms can rapidly cause Ca deficiencies that impair growth, flower quality, and vase life. Therefore, this two-year study evaluated the effects of seven Ca levels (35, 65, 110, 145, 225, 290, and 590 mg L−1) on substrate properties, physiological traits, growth performance, nutrient uptake, flower yield, and postharvest quality. Substrate pH and electrical conductivity (EC) remained within acceptable ranges (EC < 2.0 dS m−1; pH 6.5–7.0. Shoot and root biomass were highest at moderate Ca levels (65–225 mg L−1), which consistently produced the largest leaf area, highest biomass, and increased N and Ca uptake. In contrast, the highest Ca level (590 mg L−1) led to reduced root biomass and nutrient imbalances, indicating antagonistic effects. Flower yield was highest at 35–225 mg L−1 Ca in both years, with 65–145 mg L−1 consistently enhanced yield in both seasons. Vase life improved significantly at 65–145 mg L−1 in 2022 and at 65, 290, and 590 mg L−1 in 2023. Based on the findings, a drench application rate of 65–145 mg L−1 Ca is recommended to maximize gerbera growth, nutrient use efficiency, flower yield, and vase life in soilless cultivation systems, providing growers with a practical strategy to enhance crop quality and market value.

Iris (Iris × hollandica), a prominent species within the Iridaceae family, is widely recognized for its ornamental value and extensive range of flower colors. The Dutch Iris, in particular, holds significant commercial value due to its striking flowers with three distinct petals, making it a profitable crop for floriculture. Iris has been cultivated for ornamental purposes globally and is native to the Northern Hemisphere, with over 299 species documented. Iris flowers, including those found in northern Pakistan, are utilized in perfumes, cosmetics, and traditional medicine.This study, conducted at the Horticulture Field Area of the National Agriculture Center in Islamabad during the 2020–2021 growing season, aimed to assess the effects of humic acid and salicylic acid on the growth and quality of Iris (Iris × hollandica). Six different concentrations of humic acid and salicylic acid were applied in a randomized complete block design (RCBD), consisting of six treatments (one control and five experimental treatments) with three biological replications. Parameters assessed included plant height, number of leaves, flowering time, stem diameter, spike length, flower count per plant, leaf length, bulb count per plant, bulb weight, bulb size, proline content, and vase life. The results revealed that treatment with salicylic acid and humic acid at a concentration of 0.75 mg/L resulted in significant improvements in key growth and quality parameters. Specifically, this treatment increased plant height (55.27cm), flower number by (2.88) and bulb weight by (30.44g) notably it also enhanced the vase life of the flowers by (10 days), which is critical for post-harvest quality. Among the tested concentrations (ranging from 0.25mg/L to 0.75 mg/L), 0.75 mg/L was found to be most effective in enhancing growth and quality parameters. Statistical analysis indicated that these results were significant at (0.05). These findings suggest that the combined application of salicylic acid and humic acid at this concentration can be an effective strategy to enhance both vegetative and reproductive growth, as well as the marketability of Iris flowers. The outcomes of this research provide valuable insights for improving the quality and yield of Iris production in commercial floriculture.

The study investigated the response of gamma rays on flower quality, vase life and morphological changes in gladiolus. Five cultivars American Beauty, Dull Queen, Saffron, Candyman and Summer Sunshine were exposed to varying gamma ray doses (0, 15, 25, 35, 45 and 55 Gy) using a ^60Co source in a factorial randomized block design. The results revealed a dose-dependent response, where low to moderate doses (15–35 Gy) enhanced key parameters such as spike length, rachis length, blooming period, vase life and water uptake, whereas higher doses (≥45 Gy) induced physiological inhibition and morphological abnormalities. The 15 Gy dose produced the longest (≈73.95 cm), an extended blooming period and maximum vase life, whereas 55 Gy led to stunted spikes, reduced longevity and increased floral deformities. Varietal variation was evident, with Candyman and Saffron showing superior tolerance and responsiveness to irradiation. Several stable floral mutants were also isolated, including pink and light-pink variants of Candyman and yellowish-green and pale-yellow mutants of Summer Sunshine, confirming the mutagenic potential of gamma rays generating novel ornamental types. Taken together, the findings demonstrate that controlled gamma irradiation, particularly at 15-35 Gy, is an effective tool for inducing useful variability and enhancing the aesthetic and commercial value of gladiolus cultivars.

Bulbous ornamentals are major components of the floriculture industry, valued for their diverse colours, forms, fragrances and economic importance, with their underground storage organs providing adaptability and ease of propagation while requiring careful post-harvest management to maintain quality from field to consumer. This review discusses post-harvest handling and storage strategies for bulbous crops including cold storage, controlled and modified atmospheres, curing and controlled drying in relation to bulb viability and subsequent flowering, and examines factors influencing vase life of cut flowers such as growing conditions, genetic variability, pre-harvest application of bioactive compounds and the use of chemical, biological and physical treatments to delay senescence and improve water relations. It highlights current knowledge on bulbs as storage organs and distinguishes them from corms, rhizomes and tubers, linking these differences to specific handling requirements. Given the highly perishable nature of flowers and planting materials, the review emphasizes the importance of appropriate pre-cooling, conditioning, pulsing and packaging to prevent losses and maintain freshness during storage and transport. It also identifies key constraints including physiological disorders, pests, diseases and inadequate handling infrastructure that reduce marketability and shelf life, while outlining future prospects such as improved pre-harvest protocols, advanced packaging and biotechnological approaches, including the use of beneficial microorganisms, to enhance post-harvest resilience and support sustainable growth of bulbous ornamental production.

Gladiolus is a valuable ornamental crop, widely cultivated for its aesthetic appeal and commercial demand. However, its growth and flowering performance are often hindered by poor soil fertility and suboptimal nutrient management, which needs to be optimized for its commercial production under the agroclimatic conditions of Peshawar, Pakistan. Humic acid is a natural organic substance and is known to enhance soil properties and improve plant growth. Therefore, this experiment was conducted under RCBD split plot arrangement to evaluate the different humic acid levels and their influence on five different gladiolus cultivars. Results indicated that both humic acid and cultivars significantly influenced vegetative and reproductive attributes. The humic acid at the rate of 4 kg ha⁻¹ treatment was most effective, resulting in improved emergence, number of leaves, leaf area, spike emergence, 1st floret opening, florets per spike, field flower persistence, vase life, corm weight, and number of cormels. Enhanced performance was attributed to better nutrient uptake, chlorophyll synthesis, hormonal balance, and source–sink relationships under humic acid supplementation. Among cultivars, ‘White Prosperity’ showed superior vegetative growth and cormel production, while ‘Priscilla’ had longer vase life and heavier corms, indicating genetic differences in nutrient use and reproductive efficiency. The results show that humic acid not only promotes vegetative growth but also accelerates floral initiation, increases floret production, delays senescence, and enhances postharvest quality. It is concluded that humic acid at the rate of 4 kg ha⁻¹, in cultivars White Prosperity and Priscilla, was optimal for commercial gladiolus cultivation under Peshawar’s agro-climatic conditions.

The post-harvest quality and vase life of cut gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii Bolus ex. Hooker) flowers are critical quality parameters that affect their marketability and consumer satisfaction. This study was conducted to determine the effects of vase solutions containing different ratios of lysophosphatidyl ethanolamine (LPE), streptomycin, citric acid, and sucrose on vase life, water uptake, fresh weight change, phenolic compounds, and oxidative stress responses. In addition to morphological parameters, biochemical markers such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were examined to evaluate the antioxidant defense mechanisms in the flowers. Among the treatments, the T9 group (1 ppm LPE + 200 mg L−1 streptomycin + 200 mg L−1 citric acid + 5% sucrose) and the T10 group (2 ppm LPE + 200 mg L−1 streptomycin + 200 mg L−1 citric acid + 5% sucrose) stood out as the most effective treatments, exhibiting the highest vase life, water uptake, and lowest MDA content. In contrast, the highest POD and MDA levels were detected in the T6 treatment (2 ppm LPE). Although no statistically significant difference was observed in CAT activity, the high average values in the 200 mg L−1 citric acid treatment (T4) suggest that it may play a role in H2O2 detoxification. Additionally, increases in secondary metabolite levels such as phenolic compounds, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and total antioxidant activity were observed throughout the vase life, indicating that the plant synthesizes these compounds as a defense against oxidative stress during the aging process. The findings suggest that LPE, when used in combination with antibacterial and metabolic support agents, offers an effective strategy for extending the vase life of cut flowers by reducing oxidative damage.

This one-year study evaluated the effects of integrated chemical (phosphate and phosphite) and biological (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi; AMF) biostimulants on the postharvest performance of cut Rosa hybrida cv. Dolce Vita grown in soilless culture. The experiment was conducted as a factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design (CRD) with 29 phosphorus treatments applied via nutrient solution and foliar spray under both AMF-inoculated and non-inoculated conditions, with four replications per treatment. Preliminary optimization using response surface methodology (RSM) identified 17 treatments with the highest overall desirability for enhancing soluble sugars, total chlorophyll, protein, phenolics, and flavonoids. Postharvest analyses revealed that combined potassium-phosphite and phosphate treatments with AMF significantly improved relative solution uptake (RSU, 18–29%; P < 0.01), relative fresh weight (RFW, 21–28%; P < 0.01), and chlorophyll index (CI, 22–27%; P < 0.01), while reducing ion leakage, malondialdehyde (MDA), and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) accumulation compared to the control. Biochemical assays showed increases in soluble protein (up to 1.84 mg g⁻¹ FW), soluble sugars (up to 2.92 mg g⁻¹ FW), total phenolics (up to 2.99 mg gallic acid g⁻¹ FW), flavonoids (up to 0.384 mg quercetin g⁻¹ FW), and enhanced activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and antioxidant enzymes (CAT, APX, GPX, SOD; P < 0.01). Gene expression analyses confirmed upregulation of PAL and SOD, supporting enzymatic and molecular defense activation. These integrated treatments effectively delayed senescence, reduced neck bending, and extended vase life from 21 days in the control to 29 days in the optimal treatment (25% potassium-phosphite in nutrient solution combined with 50:50 foliar phosphate/phosphite plus AMF). Overall, the combined application of phosphite, phosphate, and AMF enhances physiological, biochemical, and molecular resilience in cut roses, providing a practical approach for improving postharvest quality.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12870-025-07734-w.

Effect of biofertizers on vase life and economics of marigold (Tagetes spp.)

Enhancing post-harvest vase life through pre-harvest silicon treatment and determining cultivar-specific cultivation conditions to maximize vase life in cut lisianthus

Cut flowers constitute a vital component of the global floriculture industry, contributing substantially to aesthetic enrichment, economic development and international trade. However, their production and postharvest quality are increasingly constrained by abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, temperature extremes, light fluctuations and heavy metal contamination. These stresses disrupt physiological, biochemical and molecular processes, adversely affecting flower initiation, pigment stability, vase life and overall market value. Understanding the complex mechanisms governing plant responses to environmental stresses is therefore crucial for maintaining quality and productivity in cut flower crops. This review comprehensively explores the physiological and biochemical responses of cut flowers to major abiotic stresses, emphasizing alterations in water relations, photosynthetic efficiency, antioxidant defense and hormonal regulation. It also highlights the consequent impacts on floral development, morphology and postharvest performance. This review highlights recent advancements in mitigation strategies, including agronomic interventions, nanotechnology, biostimulant applications, microbial associations and genetic engineering approaches that enhance resilience and sustainability in floricultural systems. Integrating these conventional and modern technologies offers a promising framework for developing climate-resilient cultivars and ensuring a consistent year round flower supply under changing environmental conditions.

The global floriculture industry, particularly the trade in cut flowers, has witnessed significant growth over recent decades, becoming a vital component of agricultural exports for many nations. However, cut flowers are highly perishable commodities, highly susceptible to physiological deterioration, microbial contamination and abiotic stresses post-harvest. Effective postharvest handling is essential to preserve quality attributes such as colour, turgidity, scent and vase life parameters critical for consumer satisfaction and marketability. This review explores recent scientific and technological advances in postharvest handling practices aimed at enhancing flower longevity and ensuring competitiveness in international markets. Topics include the use of chemical preservatives, ethylene inhibitors and genetic improvements; advances in microbial control using UV-C, ozone and essential oils; integration of automated grading systems using AI and machine vision; and the adoption of innovative, sustainable packaging solutions including biodegradable materials, smart packaging and Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP).

Abstract Supplemental lighting is essential for maintaining the marketable quality of greenhouse‐grown roses during periods of limited ambient light. Here, we investigated the effects of three red‐to‐blue (R‐to‐B) light emitting diode (LED) spectral combinations—90:10, 80:20 and 70:30—on key physiological traits and postharvest performance in two cut rose cultivars cultivated under suboptimal natural light conditions. All supplemental lighting treatments improved photosynthetic efficiency, with the 90:10 R‐to‐B ratio showing the most consistent and pronounced effects. This red‐dominant spectrum significantly increased levels of chlorophylls, carotenoids, anthocyanins and both soluble and insoluble carbohydrates, suggesting enhanced source strength and antioxidative potential. Stomatal analysis revealed that while all treatments increased stomatal density, the 90:10 R‐to‐B ratio uniquely induced smaller pore apertures and distinct morphological changes, likely contributing to reduced transpirational losses and an extension of vase life by up to 30% compared to conventional lighting. Genotypic differences in stomatal traits, pigment composition and carbohydrate partitioning were evident, highlighting cultivar‐specific responses to spectral inputs. These results demonstrate how tailored light spectra can improve physiological status at harvest and postharvest resilience, marking a significant step forward for precision horticulture and floriculture. Future research should assess long‐term effects across diverse cultivars and production cycles to support commercial scalability and economic feasibility.

Effects of gamma ırradiation and cultivation system on the growth, nutrient uptake, and vase life of carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.)

This study evaluated the physiological, biochemical traits, molecular responses, and vase life of cut Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Amatista’ in response to preharvest applications of putrescine and melatonin. A factorial experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with three replications. The treatments included foliar sprays of putrescine (0, 1.5, and 3 mM), melatonin (0, 50, and 100 µM), and four postharvest sampling times (0, 5, 10, and 15 days). Measured parameters included chlorophyll index, relative fresh weight, solution uptake, ion leakage, malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, vase life, and the relative expression of chlorophyllase (CHL) and ACC oxidase (ACO) genes. Postharvest senescence was associated with a time-dependent decline in chlorophyll index, water content, and solution uptake, along with increased ion leakage, MDA, H₂O₂ levels, and PPO activity. However, preharvest application of putrescine and melatonin effectively delayed these detrimental changes. Notably, the combined application of 1.5 mM putrescine and 50 µM melatonin resulted in the greatest improvement in postharvest performance, extending vase life from 16.00 to 23.66 days and enhancing physiological and biochemical traits. Moreover, gene expression analysis indicated that these treatments suppressed the expression of CHL and ACO, suggesting a molecular mechanism involved in delayed senescence. Overall, the findings highlight the potential of putrescine and melatonin as eco-friendly preharvest treatments to improve the postharvest quality and longevity of cut Alstroemeria flowers by modulating key physiological, biochemical, and molecular processes.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12870-025-07530-6.