Evaluation of the effect of plant growth substances on longevity of gerbera cut flowers cv. Sorbet.

Gerbera is one of the most popular cut flowers in the world. Several experiments have been done on the effect of different chemical compounds on longevity and quality of cut flowers. In the present study, two experiments based on a completely random design with two treatments and three replications were conducted on gerbera cut flower cv. Sorbet. The first experiment examined the effect of BA, GA3, and SA at 2 concentrations (50 and 100 ppm) as a pulse treatment and then holding vase life solution containing 3 ppm silver nanoparticle with 3% sucrose. The second experiment investigated the effect spray application of BA, GA3, and SA at 2 concentrations (25 and 50 ppm) and then holding vase life solution containing 3 ppm silver nanoparticle with 3% sucrose. Distillated water and 3 ppm silver nanoparticle with 3% sucrose were used as control. During the experiments traits such as vase life, relative fresh weight, anthocyanin content, PAL activity, and SOD activity were measured. Results showed that there was significant difference between treatments and control. As for different concentrations of BA, GA3, and SA followed by NSP and sucrose treatment in the first excrement, SA 100 ppm with 8.9 day longevity compared with control (5.6 day) and in second experiment, SA 50 ppm with 9.8 day longevity compared with control (5.9 day) had better result than other treatments in quantity and quality of enzymatic traits and vase life, respectively. Results revealed that there was significant difference between treatment and control (p≤0.01) in postharvest life in gerbera cut flowers.