Effect of Some Chemical Treatments on Keeping Quality and Vase Life of Chrysanthemum Cut Flowers

The experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of different concentrations of salicylic acid (SA), malic acid ( MA), citric acid (CA) and sucrose (Suc) on keeping quality and vase life of Chrysanthemum cut flowers. In this study three levels of malic acid (0, 100 and 150 mg l ) and salicylic acid (0, 1.5 and 3 mM) and two levels of sucrose (0 and 3% w/v) and of citric acid (0 and 150 mg l ) were applied in a factorial 1 arrangement, carried out in a complete randomized design on 144 Chrysanthemum cut flowers in horticulture laboratory of agriculture faculty of Islamic Azad University, Karaj branch. The recorded traits included Vase life, total chlorophyll content (SPAD reading), anthocyanin leakage, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, ACCOxidase activity and water absorption. The results showed that malic acid and salicylic acid treatments increased cut flower water absorption, fresh weight and vase life, while descreased the MDA content, ACCoxidase activity and membrane premeability together with total delay of senescence and peroxidation of lipids. Maximum flower vase life was recorded in 150 mg l MA +1.5 mM SA + 3% Suc treatments. A direct 1 relationship between vase life and, increasing of fresh weight and water uptake was observed as well. Abbreviations: SA, Salicylic acid; MA, malic acid; MDA, malondialdehyde; ROS, reactive oxygene species; ACO, ACC-Oxidase activity