The effects of benzyl adenine, gibberellic acid and salicylic acid on quality of tulip cut flowers

ABSTRACT: Tulip is known as an economical important ornamental plant. The present research was conducted based on completely randomized design to evaluate the induced changes in tulip cut flowers caused by the application of benzyl adenine (BA), Giobberellic acid (GA) and salicylic acid (SA). Tulip cut flowers were treated with different concentrations of SA (0, 50, 100 and 150 mgL-1), GA (0, 20, 50 and 150 mgL-1) and BA (0, 50, 75, 150 mgL-1) in pulse method. Cut flowers were grouped in ten different treatment groups including control (C), BA50, BA75, BA150, GA20, GA50, GA100, SA50, SA100, SA150. The reduction rates of antocyanin contents during experimental days were alleviated by the applied treatments where the best results were found in BA or GA treated flowers. The application of the BA, GA and SA had stimulating effects on the activity of superoxide dismutase enzyme where the highest amounts were observed in GA20, GA50, GA100 and BA50, respectively. In comparison to the control samples, the decreasing rates of relative fresh weight of tulip cut flowers were significantly declined by the applied growth regulators.