Effect of Pulsing Solutions on Case Life of Cut Chrysanthemums

Abstract

Comparative effect of various pulsing solutions on vase life of cut ‘Yellow Doi Kham’ chrysanthemums was studied in relation to fresh weight change, decay of basal stem-end and wilting of leaves and petals. Cut chrysanthemums were pulsed in tap water, 68 mg/l AgNO₃ + 794 mg/l Na₂S₂O₃ + 25 mg/l BA + 5% sucrose, 50 mg/l AgNO₃ + 200 mg/l HQS (8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate) + 5% sucrose and 200 mg/l Physan-20 + 5% sucrose for 10 and 20 hours before holding them in tap water at room temperature. The results showed that cut chrysanthemums pulsed in 50 mg/l AgNO₃ + 200 mg/l HQS + 5% sucrose for 20 hours has the longest vase life of 7.5 days while those non-pulsed chrysanthemums has vase life of 3.17-4.17 days. Pulsed chrysanthemums had the most increase in fresh weight, no decay of basal stem-end and slow wilting of leaves and petals. Pulsed cut chrysanthemums with basal stem-end cut for 2-4 cm had less increase in the fresh weight than those with basal stem-end cut for 1 cm or no cut but their vase life were not much different.