PULSING AND STORAGE OF GLADIOLUS SPIKES

Abstract

Pulsed gladiolus spikes of 2 pulsing formulations containing 150 or 200 ppm of 8- hydroxyquinoline sulfate, 30 or 50 ppm of silver nitrate, 10% or 20% sucrose and 300 ppm of aluminium sulfate, for 24 hours were dry stored at 5, 10, 15 and approximately 26 °C (room temperature) for 3-15 days. The spikes were sampled for keeping quality evaluation every 3 days after storage. It revealed that pulsing improved keeping quality of the spikes and prolonged storage of the spikes for a certain period of time. 5 °C dry storage could effectively hold cut gladiolus spikes with least damage and good keeping quality throughout 15 days of storage, while 10 °C and 15 °C dry storage failed to prolong spike deterioration after 3 days of storage. Controlled spikes (stores at room temperature) wilted on the first day of evaluation.