Investigation of some growth and biochemical and post-harvest characteristics of Rosa hybrida cv. Avalanche cut flower using combined application of sodium nitroprusside and putrescine

Rose with scientific name Rosa hybrida is one of the important ornamental plants and one of the 10 top cut flowers in the world. To investigate the effects of foliar application of sodium nitroprusside (as nitric oxide source) and putrescine on some growth and flowering characteristics of Rose ‘Avalanche’, an experiment was conducted  as a factorial trial in a completely randomized design with two factors including: sodium nitroprusside in four concentrations of control, 50, 100 and 200 μM and putrescine in four concentrations of control, 1, 2 and 4 Mm with 3 replications under soilless conditions in the greenhouse as well as in pots for 4 months. The results showed that 50 μM sodium nitroprusside ramped up chlorophyll index and guaiacol peroxidase activity (to 2 times). Also, with concomitant use of 50 μM sodium nitroprusside together with 4 mM putrescine, it increased the flowering stem length and vase life up to 20%. Also, application of 100 μM sodium nitroprusside together with 1 mM putrescine caused an increase in hydrogen peroxide activity and diameter of flowering scape. Among different concentrations of putrescine, a concentration of 1 mM caused an increase in anthocyanin content of leaf and flower. Also, 200 μM sodium nitroprusside along with 1 and/or 2 mM putrescine decreased ion leakage and hydrogen peroxide content in all of the sampling days. In general, it was found that sodium nitroprusside and putrescine had a positive and favorable effect on the improvement of growth and post-harvest indices, but the effective concentration varied depending on the type of index.