Effects of plant growth regulators and sucrose on post harvest physiology, membrane stability and vase life of cut spikes of gladiolus

Abstract

Effects of post-harvest application of two plant growth regulators viz., gibberellic acid (GA 3 ) and benzyl adenine (BA) with sucrose in the vase solution on cell membrane stability and vase life of gladiolus were investigated. The vase solution treatment combinations of GA 3 and BA with sucrose significantly increased the membrane stability index and enhanced the vase life as compared to the sucrose alone treatments or the controls. Vase solution treatment of GA 3 (50 mg l -1 ), followed by BA (50 mg l -1 ) with sucrose (50 g l -1 ) significantly increased solution uptake, fresh weight and dry weight of cut spikes. The same treatments also enhanced the concentration of reducing and nonreducing sugars in gladioli petals 4 days after treatment (DAT). Cut spikes in vase solution enriched with 50 mg l -1 GA 3 + 50 g l -1 sucrose showed higher antioxidative enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase (GR), lower lipoxygenase (LOX) activity and lipid peroxidation (measured as TBARS). Petal membrane stability index was also highest in cut spikes 6 DAT with 50 mg l -1 GA 3 + 50 g l -1 sucrose vase solution. Treatment of gladiolus cut spikes with 50 mg l -1 GA 3 + 50 g l -1 sucrose vase solution showed two fold increase in vase life and improved flower quality with a higher number of open flower per spike at any one time. These results suggest that post-harvest application of GA 3 (50 mg l -1 ) with sucrose (50 g l -1 ) maintains higher spike fresh and dry weight, improves anti-oxidative defence, stabilizes membrane integrity leading to a delay in petal cell death.

Action of abscisic and gibberellic acids on senescence of cut gladiolus flowers

“…The use of 1 mM fluridone did not influence the longevity of the stems, which was 5 days, compared with the 5.2 days of control flowers. Singh et al (2008) and Faraji et al (2011) also found increased gladiolus vase life when treated with GA 3 . According to Hunter et al (2004), the senescence rate can be changed with a variation in the relative concentrations of GA 3 and ABA in the flower tissue.…”

Towards Include Preservation of Vitamins in Fenugreek and Carob Seeds by the Instant Controlled Pressure-Drop Process (DIC Process)

“…The effect of treatment with DIC on membrane integrity is determined for seeds germinating according to the method of Singh [24] [25]. This parameter has been included in order to have more information about the stability of the membrane and the relative ion content.…”

Potential use of germicides in vase solutions for gladiolus ‘White Friendship’

“…After cooling to room temperature, electrical conductivity (value B) was measured again. Potassium chloride (0.01 mM) was used as standard, which gives specific conductance of 1.41 dS m SINGH et al, 2008) Water relations. Solution uptake was obtained by difference between initial and each evaluation day volume recorded using graduated cylinder.…”

“…The lowest quantity of fully-open flowers in the sucrose solution alone and polymeric biguanide treatments, may have caused a lower solution uptake and a negative water balance, because water and carbohydrates are necessary for postharvest development of inflorescences (SINGH et al, 2008).…”

“…Vase solutions supply water and sugars that support inflorescence postharvest development and enhance flower quality and they are particularly useful when flowers must be harvested and transported in bud stage and flower opening occurs afterwards (SINGH et al, 2008).…”