Sucrose Improves the Postharvest Life of Cut Flowers of a Hybrid Limonium

Abstract

Regardless of their maturity at harvest, the vase life of cut inflorescences of the hybrid Limonium `Fantasia' placed in deionized water was 4 to 5 days. A vase solution containing Physan (a quaternary ammonium disinfectant solution) at 200 μl·liter–1 and 20 g sucrose/liter not only prolonged the longevity of individual florets but also promoted bud opening so that the vase life of cut inflorescences extended to 17 days. Pulse treatment with 100 g sucrose/liter in combination with Physan at 200 μl·liter–1 for 12 hours partially substituted for a continuous supply of sucrose. Including 30 mg gibberellic acid/liter in the vase solution was without benefit.