Cut-flower Carnation Photoluminescence: Potential New Value-added Product

Abstract

Success of the floral industry lies in strengthening the fresh flower market with value-added products. An experiment was conducted to quantify luminescence of cut-flower white carnations after exposure to two fluorescent products (dye from a yellow highlighter or glow-in-the-dark spray paint). Single stems were placed in bud vases that were filled with 240 mL deionized water and 2 g floral preservative. Highlighter treatments were applied to the vase as either one drop, three drops, or half of the dye reservoir (half stick). Paint treatments were applied at 2-, 4-, or 6-second durations to the flowers. Combination treatments were applied as three drops of highlighter dye plus either 2, 4, or 6 seconds of paint application. Treatments were compared against each other and a nontreated control. There were five repetitions of three stems per treatment arranged in a completely randomized design. Measurements were taken daily on stem fresh weight, flower diameter, quality rating, flower maximum brightness, flower mean brightness, relative stem fresh weight percentage, overall solution absorption rate percentage, and daily solution absorption rate. Stem fresh weight, relative stem fresh weight percentage, flower diameter, and overall solution absorption rate were greatest on day 4. Flower maximum brightness without ultraviolet (UV) light was greatest 2 days after treatment (DAT), but still produced a detectable glow through 8 DAT. Among treatments before UV charge, the 6-second paint duration provided the greatest flower maximum brightness value. The half-stick highlighter treatment had the greatest vase mean brightness. All paint treatments reduced flower quality. For each treated flower, the UV charge increased the brightness values, which ranged from 53% to 206% greater than before the UV charge. White carnations can luminesce with spray applications of glow-in-the-dark spray paint or through the stem absorption method using yellow highlighter dye, with the latter being less detrimental to vase life but requiring a UV light source to glow.

Blue Phosphorescence of Standard Cut Flower Carnation

“…Stem fresh weight, relative stem fresh weight, flower diameter, and overall solution absorption rate increased each day and peaked on 4 DAT; thereafter, a steady decline occurred (Table 1). Pace et al (2022) also reported similar results for carnation using yellow highlighter and green glow-in-the-dark paint. Daily solution absorption was negative for the first 4 DAT before increasing to positive and significantly greater values from 5 DAT through 10 DAT.…”

“…Measurements were performed daily to obtain the stem weight (combined weight of stem and flower), vase weight, average flower diameter (average of two perpendicular measurements), and visual deterioration. The relative fresh weight percent, water content, flower diameter change rate, overall solution absorption rate, and daily solution absorption rate were calculated according to Pace et al (2022). Visual deterioration was evaluated using a rating score (average daily rating per day) of 1 to 4 for deterioration (1, no browning; 2, browning around the edges; 3, some browning throughout the flower; 4, complete browning and shriveled flower) to represent the quality.…”

“…Khattab et al (2019a) found that some plants are able to uptake luminescent chemicals as an initial step toward electricity-free natural light. Recently, a study involving green glow-in-thedark spray paint and yellow highlighters on carnations as a value-added product was performed (Pace et al, 2022). Although both products worked, there were limitations of only obtaining green luminescence.…”

Evaluating Various Colors of Persistent Luminescent Powders on Rose Cut Flowers

“…The study conducted by Tekli c et al ( 2003) reported a continuous decrease in floral diameter over the course of their temperature study for each rose and carnation cultivar. In other studies, Pace et al (2022aPace et al ( , 2022b and Kumari et al (2018) suggest the decrease in floral diameter mid way through the useful life of the flower is due to the treatment effects of color tinting.…”

“…Various studies have researched and incorporated luminescence in root tissues, leaves and fruits, ceramic surfaces, fabrics, and information encryption (Defrianto et al 2022;Gao et al 2009;Khattab et al 2018;Strock et al 2019;Swathi et al 2023). The persistent luminescence of cut flowers has recently been reported using green luminescence by means of glow-in-the-dark spray paint and highlighters (Pace et al 2022b) and blue luminescence by dip and spray of using a blue glowin-the-dark powder in a water-based solution (Pace et al 2022a). Both studies were limited to white carnation flowers and solely tested green and blue colored luminescence.…”