Vol. 12, Issue 3 (2023)

Author(s):
P Subbaramamma and V Vijaya Bhaskar

Abstract:
Beneficial elements have improve the post-harvest life of cut flowers by increasing the water uptake, flower diameter, flower fresh matter weight (FMW), spike length/floral stem, maximum flower opening time and reduced the fresh matter weight loss by preventing the membrane leakage and vessel blockage through limitation of microbial growth in vase solution at cut end of the stem. Beneficial elements also extend the vase life of cut flowers by increasing the osmotic adjustment through improvement of RWC, accumulation of proline, total soluble sugars, TSS and soluble proteins in petals. Further beneficial elements improve the vase life by reducing the cell damage as well as production of oxygen free radicals (H₂O₂) and lipid peroxidation by increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes in petals of cut flowers. Beneficial elements delayed the petal wilting and petal senescence by improving the nutrient content, chlorophyll/anthocyanin pigments, carotenoids and soluble protein contents by decreasing the degradative enzymes, respiratory activity and ethylene production.