Post-harvest characteristics of cut carnations as the result of chemical treatments

Abstract

Cut flowers of Dianthus caryophyllus L. cv. Asso were treated with 8-hydroxyquinoline sulphate (8-HQS) at 200 and 400 ppm with or without sucrose at 50 g l-1, silver thiosulphate (STS) at 0.2 and 0.4 mM with or without sucrose at 50 g l-1,and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) at 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7 g m-3 for 6 h to study the effect of these chemicals on post-harvest quality. 8-HQS treatments increased the vase life and the percentage loss of initial fresh weight compared to the control. In addition, the vase life was longer when sucrose was applied in combination with 8-HQS. The best treatment involved 400 ppm 8-HQS + 50 g l-1 sucrose. All the concentrations of STS prolonged the vase life and fresh mass compared to the control. The best treatment was STS at 0.4 mM with or without sucrose. All levels of 1-MCP prolonged the vase life and increased the fresh weight in comparison with the control. The best treatment in this respect was 1-MCP at 0.5 g m-3 for 6 h. The chlorophyll content (chl a and chl b) in the leaves was higher than the control in the best treatment of each chemical.