Effects of Postharvest Treatments with Nanosilver on Senescence of Cut Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum (Raf.) Shinn.) Flowers

Abstract

Lisianthus is among the most popular cut flowers. Regarding the postharvest losses, these experiments were designed to compare the effects of a nanosilver (NS) based preservative to the standard preservative containing 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate (8-HQC) and sucrose (S). Additionally, the effect of 24 h conditioning in the NS solution on the postharvest longevity and the general condition of lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum ‘Mariachi Blue’) was tested. The vase life of flowers on conditioned and non-conditioned stems was extended by the preservatives, more so by NS + S than by 8-HQC + S (44–54% versus 13–23%). Conditioning had no detectable effect on longevity. Daily water uptake showed alternative peaks and drops, with a general tendency of the uptake rate to decrease over time. The highest uptake intensity and the highest transpiration rate were in stems in the NS + S solution while the lowest was in 8-HQC + S. Conditioning negatively affected the average fresh weight of the flowering stems in all holding solutions with stems in preservatives being heavier than those in water. Preservatives did not induce accumulation of the total soluble or reducing sugars in petals; such accumulation was promoted by conditioning, but only in the upper flowers. The free proline content increased in senescing lower flowers on non-conditioned stems; conditioning limited this increase in flowers in preservatives. In the upper flowers, free proline increased in both water controls while the preservatives and conditioning generally reduced the proline contents below the initial level. Conditioning lowered the hydrogen peroxide contents in senescing lower flowers, relative to the initial level and the non-conditioned stems. The catalase activity kept dropping during the vase life in both the lower and upper flowers, in conditioned and non-conditioned stems, with the exception of flowers from water where the activity remained the highest from all three treatments. It appears that the NS preservative with sucrose improves the overall condition of lisianthus flowers and extends their vase life.

Vase life consequences of natural and chemical treatments in foxtail lily (Eremurus spectabilis), as a specialty cut flowers

“…Overall, the 10 mg L -1 nano-silver treated cut foxtail lily inflorescences trended to have the longest vase life and best ornamental quality during the vase period. In line with these results, several previous studies have revealed that NS treatments successfully extended the longevity of various cut flowers such as gladiolus (Li et al, 2017), gerbera (Liu et al, 2021), carnation (Naing et al, 2017;Park et al, 2017;Liu et al 2018;Lin et al, 2019;Naing et al, 2021), snapdragon (Rabiza-Świder et al, 2020), peony (Zhao, 2018), and cut lisianthus (Skutnik et al, 2021). However, high levels of silver ions may cause toxicity in the flower tissues, resulting in higher ethylene production (Naing et al, 2017).…”

Improving the Keeping Quality of Nephrolepis exaltata, I. Branches after Cutting

“…These differences among the treatments in shelf -life period due to the roles of each preservative solution separately in encouraging cell elongation, cells divisions and consequently decreasing activation of photosynthesis and metabolic process which reflected increases in life period longevity. Data showed harmonized trend Avilala et al, (2021), Skutnik et al, (2021) and El-Attar and Sakr (2022).…”

“…These results get agree with Skutnik et al, (2006) who stated that Chlorophyll content was remained high in shoots treated with Benzyl Adenine, and Moradi et al, (2012), they stated that Benzyl Adenine improve the qualitative characteristics such as Anthocyanin content. Even Skutnik et al, (2021) stated that the NS preservative with sucrose improves the overall condition of lisianthus flowers.…”

Postharvest Physiology of Ornamentals: Processes and Their Regulation

“…Senescence processes after harvest were investigated in cut flowers of Lilum [1], Peony [2][3][4], Lisianthus [5], and Mokara orchids [6], as well as in cut foliage of Polygonatum multiflorum 'Variegatum' [7]. Several authors studied the effects of various PGRs such as salicylic acid, gibberellin (GA 3 ) [1], ethylene [6] or 5-Aminolevulinic Acid (ALA) [7] on different senescence parameters in cut flowers of Lilium, Mokara orchid and cut foliage of Polygonatum multiflorum.…”

“…Among the various chemicals used for quality maintenance, the use of nanosilver (NS) formulation should be emphasized as a relatively new compound for future use. Indeed, NS successfully reduced senescence and improved the quality of cut flowers of various Peony cultivars [2,4] and Lisianthus [5]. Silver is a well-known antibacterial agent that has been used for decades to prolong the vase life of flowers.…”