The objective of this study was to assess the influence of different foliar gibberellic acid (GA3) levels (0, 10, 50, and 200 mg L-1) and application timing on the growth, physiology (chlorophyll and gas exchange) and flower quality of gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii cvs. Beaudine and Palm Beach) and Asiatic lily (Lilium × elegans cvs. Fangio and Eldivo). The application of GA3 (50 mg L-1) increased (p < 0.05) gerbera shoot height (30%), pedicel length (20%), and vase life (12.5%) and decreased the number of days to flowering (7%) compared to the control. GA3 application at the seedling stage increased pedicel length and flower diameter compared to GA3 treatment at the flower initiation stage. However, the chlorophyll content index, photosynthesis (Pn), stomatal conductance (gs) and transpiration (E) were similar across the study period. For Asiatic lily, 10 and 50 mg L-1 were the best GA3 levels in terms of leaf gs, E and flower diameter. Compared to 0, 10 and 50 mg L-1-GA3, 200 mg L-1-GA3 decreased the number of days to flowering. Overall, the application of 50 mg L-1-GA3 to gerbera and lily cultivars at the seedling stage can potentially improve flower quality and shorten the number of days to flowering.

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Lily species are considered one of the most important cut flowers worldwide. With annual production of 282 million flowers and total value of $200 million, lily is among the top five cut flower species auctioned in the international flower stock markets. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of different planting depths on morphology, physiology, root growth and flower quality of lilies. Three hybrid lilies [Lilium × elegans; Orienpet (‘Maytime’, white) and L.A. (‘Fangio’, pink and ‘Pavia’, yellow)] were used. Deep planting at 25 cm significantly improved total and stem root systems, stem diameter and leaf area. No significant differences were noticed between planting depths for plant height, chlorophyll content, and gas exchange (photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and transpiration). Flower quality variables, specifically, vase life from deep planting were higher in 25-cm compared to 5 and 15. The ‘Maytime’ cultivar had higher leaf area, total and stem roots, flower diameter, number of days to flowering, and brighter color (L*) while the ‘Fangio’ had higher leaf number per plant, more basal roots, flower number per plant, vase life, and red color coordinate (a*). Overall, our results revealed that lily growers can increase their lily flower quality by adopting the deep planting at 25 cm.

We assessed the influence of postharvest pulsing solutions pH and composition on cut flower quality of rose (Rosa hybrida cvs. Avalanche and Black Magic), gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii cv. Beaudine) and lily (Lilium × elegans cv. Fangio) under room (20±2 °C) and cold storage (4±1 °C) conditions. Cut flowers were placed in different acidic (pH, 3.5 - 4) or basic (pH, 7.0 - 7.5) preservative solutions containing water, sugar 5% (flower food), 100 mg/L silver nitrate (AgNO3 act as a bactericide), or a commercial product (2% sugar + bactericide and fungicide). Acidic solutions had higher or similar (never lower) vase life at both room and cold storage conditions and across species. In addition, vase life was 3-4 times longer in cold storage when compared to room conditions. Leaf chlorophyll concentrations for rose and lily were inconsistent or not significant across the species at both conditions (room and cold storage). The commercial preservative solution consistently and significantly had higher vase life than water for all tested cut flower species and under both room and cold storage environments. AgNO3 ranked second in terms of vase life enhancement. Overall, the use of only flower food (sugar) or bactericide (AgNO3) had a positive impact on vase life but only the combined use of a preservative substance (specifically at pH, 3.5 - 4.0) consistently guaranteed a high cut flower quality across flower species.