Effect of Gibberellic Acid and Calcium Chloride on Keeping Quality and Vase Life of Narcissus (Narcissus tazetta) cut flowers

ABSTRACT: The effects of Gibberellic Acid and Calcium Chloride, on cut Narcissus was studied. gibberellic acid (0, 20 and 40 mg L-1) and calcium chloride (0, 10, 20, 40 mM), their combinations were tested as preservative mixture. This study was conducted in a factorial experiment with complete randomized design on 108 Narcissus cut flowers in horticulture laboratory of agriculture faculty of Islamic Azad University, jiroft branch. The recorded traits included vase life, microbial count, relative fresh weight and solution uptake. The results shown using gibberellic acid and calcium chloride as a preservative significantly increased the vase life, Fresh weight changes, Microbial Count and Solution uptake. The results showed that calcium chloride increased cut flower vase life, while decreased the Microbial Count with total delay of senescence. Maximum flower vase life was recorded in 20 Mm calcium chloride treatments. A direct relationship between vase life and, increasing of relative fresh weight and water uptake was observed as well.

Microbial Count, Relative Fresh Weight, Narcissus, Vase Life.