EFFECT OF POST HARVEST TREATMENTS ON GLADIOLUS GRANDIFLORUS CUT FLOWERS

Abstract

This study was carried out at the Ornamental Horticulture Department, Fac. of Agric., Cairo Univ. as well as at Postharvest Lab. of Floriculture Res. Dept., Hort. Res. Inst., ARC, Giza, Egypt. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of pulsing solutions, holding solutions, storage temperature and their interaction on quality and longevity of Gladiolus grandiflorus "White Prosperity" cut flowers. The flowering stems were picked in the early morning when the beginning of the flower opens basal. They were at similar lengths of 100 cm and transported vertically quickly to the laboratory. The flowering stems (243) were divided into similar and equal three groups (81 flowering stems per each group). In the first group was pulsed for 20 hours at 25°C in 20% sucrose (Suc.) solution. At the end of pulsing period, the flowering stems were transferred to be held in distilled water (D.W.) as control, 20 g/L sucrose (Suc.) solution, 40 g/L sucrose (Suc.) solution, 100 ppm salisylic acid (SA) solution, 200 ppm salisylic acid (SA) solution, 2 g/L lupin solution, 5 g/L lupin solution, 2 g/L moringa solution, 5 g/L moringa solution. Second group of flowers putting under the room temperature (21±1°C) in preservative solutions to the vase life end. Third group of flowers storage at 5°C for one week and gladiolus should be stored in a vertical position. After the end of cold-storage period the flower stems held in one of the nine preservative solutions mentioned above.