Author/Authors :
Bayat, Hassan Department of Horticultural Science - Faculty of Agriculture - University of Birjand , Aminifard, Mohammad Hossein Department of Horticultural Science - Faculty of Agriculture - University of Birjand
Abstract :
The main aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of silicon ( Si), ethanol (Et), ascorbic acid (AA), and citric acid (CA) on the vase life of Narcissus tazetta L. cv. ‘Shahla’ cut flowers. For this purpose, an experiment based on a completely randomized design was conducted with Si (5, 10 and 20 mM), Et (2 and 4%), AA (100, 200 and 300 mg L-1), CA (100, 200 and 300 mg L-1) and control (distilled water) with three replications and three samples (individual flowers) for each replicate. The results showed that the addition of all preservatives to vase solutions significantly increased relative fresh weight, water uptake, and vase life of cut flowers in comparison to control. Relative fresh weight of the cut flowers treated with Si (5 mM) was higher than that of other treatments during all days of experiment and this
treatment increased relative fresh weight and total water uptake by 16 and
27% compared to control (day 7 of the experiment), respectively. Silicon (5
mM) also increased fresh weight of control flower (excluding stem) from
0.185 to 0.259 g (40% increases). The highest dry weight of flower (0.057
g) was obtained from 300 mg L-1AA. It was 32% higher than that of control
flower. The application of Si (5 mM) extended the vase life of cut flowers
by 2.66 days in comparison to control. According to the results of this experiment,
Si, Et, AA and CA are safe and cheap compounds that are suitable
for extending the vase life of N. tazetta cut flowers.
Keywords :
Ascorbic acid , Citric acid , Ethanol , Silicon , Total soluble carbohydrate
