THE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT FLORAL PRESERVATIVE SOLUTIONS ON PEDUNCLE BENDING AND QUALITY ATTRIBUTES OF LISIANTHUS CUT FLOWERS

A study was conducted to determine the effects of sucrose (at 0, 20, 40 and 60 g L^-1), citric acid (at 0 and 160 mg L^-1), aluminum sulphate, (at 0 and 160 mg L^-1) and silver nitrate (at 0 and 120 mg L^-1) on vase life and quality attributes of lisianthus cut flowers (cultivar ‘Mariachi Blue Fonce’). Cut flowers were treated with the above mentioned compounds during 34 days storage at 20±2°C and at the end of shelf life the amount of electrolyte leakage, relative water content and days to peduncle bending were determined. 60 g L^-1 sucrose in combination with citric acid was the most effective treatment in increasing the vase life. Flowers treated with 60 g L^-1 sucrose and aluminum sulphate had the highest relative water content. The lowest electrolyte leakage (29.84%) was recorded in flowers treated with 60 g L^-1 sucrose and 120 mg L^-1 silver nitrate. Treatment with the combination of 60 g L^-1 sucrose, citric acid and silver nitrate was the most effective treatment in delaying the peduncle bending.