Effects of aluminium sulphate, hydroxyquinoline citrate and calcium hypochlorate on postharvest physiological and microbial properties of cut Polar Star rose

Subject Areas : Journal of Plant Ecophysiology

M.M. Jowkar ¹ (استادیار دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد کرمانشاه)

Received: 2014-05-28 Accepted : 2014-05-28 Published : 2013-11-01

Keywords:

Abstract :

One of the major factors effecting vase life and postharvest loss in cut flowers is water relation interruption due to vase solution microbial proliferation. Therefore in order to find a suitable biocide as vase solution for Polar Star roses, an experiment was conducted in completely randomized design within two parts: a) postharvest physiology of cut flower and b) vase solution microbiology. Applied treatments were aluminium sulphate (AS) (200, 400, 600 mgl-1), hydroxyquinoline citrate (HQC) (200, 300, 400 mgl-1) and calcium hypochlorate (400, 600, 800 mgl-1) and sterilized distilled water as control. In the first part, various physiological properties such as: vase life, side effects, fresh weight and solution uptake were studied while in the second part microbiological properties such as: microbial count, growth and kind were studied. Results of the physiological part indicate the beneficial effect of AS on vase life and postharvest quality which resulted a maximum vase life of 11.67 days in 200 mgl-1 AS treated flowers. The highest increase and the least decrease in flower fresh weight beside the most solution uptake were also seen in AS treated flowers. This was while HQC was the most effective treatment in controlling microbial proliferation. Bacillus, Coccus and Streptomyces were the most abundant vase solution microbial contaminations. Considering longest vase life, beneficial effect on physiological properties and acceptable microbial control, 200 mgl-1 AS was considered as the best treatment for cut Polar Star roses.