Effects of sodium nitroprusside on improving the vase life of Rosa hybrida cvs. Utopia and Dolce Vita

In order to investigate the postharvest effect of sodium nitroprusside on vase life of cut rose, Utopia and Dolce Vita cultivars, an experiment was conducted as factorial in a completely randomized design with three factors and six replications. The first factor was included two cultivars of cut flowers of rose.  The second factor was four concentrations of sodium nitroprusside 0 (control) 20, 40 and 60 μM, which was applied by pulse treatment. The third factor was the time of application at 24 and 48 hours. The results of this research showed that sodium nitroprusside treatment had a significant effect on vase life, catalase activity, ion leakage and flower diameter at 1% probability level and for fresh and dry weight of flower and stem, Ascorbate peroxidase activity and water absorption rate had a significant effect at 5% probability level. The highest vase life of Utopia cultivar was in 40 μM sodium nitroprusside in 48 hours and in Dolce Vita, it was related to sodium nitroprusside concentration of 60 μM in 48 hours. The most antioxidant enzymes activity such as catalase and ascorbate peroxidase were obtained at concentrations of 40 and 60 μM sodium nitroprusside. In general, the results of this study showed that in Utopia using 40 μM sodium nitroprusside for 48 hours and in Dolce Vita 60 μM sodium nitroprusside for 48 hours were the best treatments that could improve the traits studied.