Post-harvest longevity of ×Heucherella L. leaves after the application of benzyladenine sprayed on maternal plants

Abstract

Analyses were conducted on leaves of two ×Heucherella L. cultivars: 'Solar Power' and 'Kimono' . Leaves were harvested at two dates: spring (2014-05-22) and summer (2014-07-26). Prior to each leaf harvest day, the maternal plants were sprayed with benzyladenine (BA) at a concentration of 100, 300 and 600 mg dm . After being cut, the leaves were placed in containers with distilled water. In the cultivar 'Solar Power' , BA at a concentration of 100-600 mg dm −3 had an advantageous effect on post-harvest longevity of leaves harvested in summer, improving it by 31.7-98.3%, while in the cultivar 'Kimono' BA at the above-mentioned concentrations improved post-harvest longevity of leaves harvested both in spring and summer by almost 2 months. BA at a concentration of 100-600 mg dm −3 inhibited proteolysis in leaves of the tested ×Heucherella cultivars, except for leaves of the cultivars 'Solar Power' and 'Kimono' harvested in summer from plants sprayed with BA at a concentration of 100 mg dm −3. In these leaves, the protein level was comparable to that in the control leaves. In leaves treated with BA at a concentration of 100-600 mg dm −3 , the content of saccharides was higher than in the control plants harvested in the spring and summer.