Vol. 12, Issue 6 (2023)

Author(s):
Punitha A, Sumathi T, Uma Sankareswari R, Geethalakshmi I, Adeline Vinila JE and Subha L

Abstract:
Carnation is preferred to rose and chrysanthemum in several exporting countries due to its excellent keeping quality, wide range of forms, ability to withstand distant transportation and remarkable ability to rehydrate after continuous shipping. The longevity of cut carnation flowers is one of the major aspects in floriculture industry and is the main characteristic determining the commercial value of the ornamental flowers. The cut flowers are deprived of water and nutrients after being detached from the mother plant. Hence, addition of chemical preservatives to the cut flowers is recommended to continue its physiological processes so that the longevity of the flowers can be extended. The vase life of cut carnation flowers is mainly associated with ethylene which initiates senescence and microorganisms which is responsible for vascular blockage. The study was conducted on the effect on post harvest life of cut carnation cultivar Malaga as influenced by different holding solutions. Cut carnations are treated with holding solution of silver thiosulphate, aluminium sulphate, benzyl adenine, gibberellic acid and combinations of the treatments to improve their vase life. Sucrose of 2 percent was added to all the treatments except control. The experiment results revealed that the holding solution of Sucrose 2 percent + Aluminium sulphate @ 300 ppm recorded the highest water uptake (5.39 g), water balance (8.79 g), fresh weight change (172.93 percent), earlier bud opening (6.33 days), flower diameter (5.27 cm), flower freshness (18.33 days), colour fading (18.33 days), longest vase life (21.33 days), total sugars (1.162 mg/g), reducing sugars (0.584 mg/g), anthocyanin (2.96 mg/g) and carotenoid content (0.147 mg/g). The transpirational loss of water (6.60g), physiological loss in weight (33.40 percent) and peroxidase activity (0.025 percent) was low for the treatment with holding solution of Sucrose 2% + Al₂(SO₄)₃ 300 ppm.