EFFECTS OF PRESERVATIVES ON THE VASE LIFE OF TWO ROSE CULTIVARS

Abstract

An experiment was carried out at the laboratory, Department of Horticulture, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur during 1st to 17th December, 2017. The main objective of this research was to increase the vase life of two cut rose cultivars using different preservative solutions. The two factor experiment was laid out in the completely randomized design with three replications. There were two cultivars: Lincoln (V1) and Tajmahal (V2), and these flowers were kept in six preservative solutions viz., T1= water (control), T2= 2% sucrose + 50 ppm AgNO3, T3= 2% sucrose + 100 ppm AgNO3, T4= 2% sucrose + 150 ppm AgNO3, T5= 2% sucrose + 150 ppm 8-HQS, and T6= 2% sucrose + 200 ppm 8-HQS. Flowers were monitored for 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17 DAS of storage. Parameters studied in the experiment were: flower head diameter (cm), petal wilting (1-7 scale), petal discolouration (1-8 scale), petal blackening (1-8 scale), bent neck (1-8 scale), flower opening (1-4 scale), total soluble solids (TSS), % dry weight (g), solution uptake (g/flower), transpiration loss (g), water balance (g) and vase life (days). Lincoln performed better than Tajmahal. Among the preservatives, T2 (2% sucrose + 50 ppm AgNO3) gave the best results in respect of all parameters whereas T1 gave the lowest results in different DAS. The combinations of cultivars and preservatives demonstrated a significant variation (1%) in vase life and most of the others (1% or 5%). The highest vase life (16.67 days) of Lincoln and Tajmahal were recorded when those were kept in T2 and T3, respectively whereas it was only 6.67 days in control. The highest solution uptake rate was recorded in V1T2 (14.50 g). At the end of the storage, the highest water balance rate was with V1T2 (0.33 g). The lowest number of petal discolouration was noted in V1T2 (5.17) than other treatment combinations. Again, at the end of storage, the minimum bent neck was observed in the combination V1T2 (3.50) than the others. In term of transpiration loss, % dry weight, total soluble solids, the best results were in V1T2 than the rest combinations. At the end of storage, the maximum flower head diameter was observed in V2T3. Different quality parameters like petal wilting and petal blackening were also significantly minimum in Lincoln preserved in T2 than the other preservatives. Overall, 2% sucrose with 50 ppm AgNO3 solution extended the vase life and improved the quality parameters in rose cv. Lincoln than other preservatives.