Articles
Effect of calcium chloride and salicylic acid solutions on the vase life of Heliconia spp.
Article number
1225_27
Pages
205 – 210
Language
English
Abstract
Heliconias are cut flowers used for beautification of homes, offices and during celebrations.
Clients get better value when their shelf life is extended.
This experiment was conducted at the Floriculture laboratory, National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Ibadan, Nigeria (7°25N; 3°52E) to investigate the effect of inorganic vase solutions on the longevity of cut Heliconia flowers.
Treatments included salicylic acid (100, 200, 300 mg L-1) and CaCl2.2H2O (1000, 2000, 3000 mg
L-1) plus or minus 4% (w/v) sucrose, respectively, and tap water as control.
The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with four replicates.
Data were collected on the number of opened bracts and sepals, fresh weight, relative water content and quality rating of flower freshness.
The highest number of wilted sepals and bracts occurred with salicylic acid at 200 and 300 mg L-1, respectively, at day 9, while no wilted sepals was recorded with CaCl2.2H2O 1000 mg L-1 + sucrose.
Flower vase life was significantly improved with CaCl2.2H2O > tap water > salicylic acid.
Longest vase life was achieved with the use of 3000 mg L-1 CaCl2.2H2O + sucrose while the shortest vase life was observed with the salicylic acid treatment.
Clients get better value when their shelf life is extended.
This experiment was conducted at the Floriculture laboratory, National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Ibadan, Nigeria (7°25N; 3°52E) to investigate the effect of inorganic vase solutions on the longevity of cut Heliconia flowers.
Treatments included salicylic acid (100, 200, 300 mg L-1) and CaCl2.2H2O (1000, 2000, 3000 mg
L-1) plus or minus 4% (w/v) sucrose, respectively, and tap water as control.
The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with four replicates.
Data were collected on the number of opened bracts and sepals, fresh weight, relative water content and quality rating of flower freshness.
The highest number of wilted sepals and bracts occurred with salicylic acid at 200 and 300 mg L-1, respectively, at day 9, while no wilted sepals was recorded with CaCl2.2H2O 1000 mg L-1 + sucrose.
Flower vase life was significantly improved with CaCl2.2H2O > tap water > salicylic acid.
Longest vase life was achieved with the use of 3000 mg L-1 CaCl2.2H2O + sucrose while the shortest vase life was observed with the salicylic acid treatment.
Publication
Authors
H.A. Akintoye, O.A. Shokalu, M.T. Olatunji, A.G. Adebayo, O.O. Aina, I.E. James
Keywords
vase life, cut flowers, salicylic acid, calcium chloride, sucrose
Groups involved
- Division Temperate Tree Fruits
- Division Vine and Berry Fruits
- Division Tropical and Subtropical Fruit and Nuts
- Division Ornamental Plants
- Division Vegetables, Roots and Tubers
- Commission Banana
- Division Horticulture for Development
- Division Precision Horticulture and Engineering
- Division Plant Genetic Resources, Breeding and Biotechnology
- Commission Cultivar Registration
- Division Plant-Environment Interactions in Field Systems
- Division Postharvest and Quality Assurance
- Division Greenhouse and Indoor Production Horticulture
- Division Landscape and Urban Horticulture
- Division Horticulture for Human Health
- Division Temperate Tree Nuts
- Commission Agroecology and Organic Farming Systems
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