This document summarizes research on factors affecting the vase life of gerbera and carnation cut flowers. It discusses how pre-harvest conditions like variety selection, environment, and nutrition can impact vase life. It also describes optimal harvesting methods and stages. Various storage techniques are outlined as well as the effects of preservatives, temperature, and relative humidity on storage life. Grading standards and packaging methods for transporting gerbera and carnation are provided. The document concludes with results from studies analyzing the effects of growing media and gibberellic acid application on gerbera vase life.

1. 1
WEL COME
TO
SEMINAR

2. 2
Speaker
NAKUM VIJAY H.
M. Sc. (Agri.)
Student

3. 3
LONGEVITY OF VASE LIFE
IN
GERBERA AND CARNATION
CUT FLOWERS

4. 4
Introduction
Cut flower - The flower which is cut along with a portion of long
stem.
The demand for cut blooms in the global market is increasing at
the rate of 10-15 per cent each year.
Major flowers which dominate in the global market are;
 Rose
 Tulip
 Chrysanthemum
 Gerbera
 Carnation
 Freesia
 Lilies
 Alstroemeria
 Iris
 Gypsophila

5. 5
TOP TEN CUT FLOWERS
1. ROSE 3. CHRYSANTHEMUM
5.CARNATION
2.TULIP
7. LILY
6. FREESIA
4.GERBERA
8.ALSTROMERIA
9.Iris 10.Gyposophila
5

6. 6
Table 1. India’s Category wise Exports of Floricultural Products
(Rs. in Crore)
Description 2000 –
2001
2001 -
2002
Bulbs 3. 28 3. 62
Other live plants 9. 64 14. 02
Cut flowers, fresh 39. 09 39. 99
Other Dried flowers 56. 88 51. 96
Foliage branches 21. 89 19. 84
Total 130. 79 127. 43
6

7. 7
Table 2. INDIA’S EXPORTS OF CUT FLOWER
(Rs. Crores)Year Rs. Crores
1993-94 0.996
1994-95 2.998
1995-96 10.03
1996-97 18.09
1997-98 18.94
1998-99 25.12
1999-2000 29.13
2000-2001 39.097
2001-2002 39.99
Shingal (2003)

8. 8
PRE HARVEST CONDITIONS AFFECTING VASE LIFE
 Post harvest behavior of cut
flower is determined by the
pre harvest conditions under
which the crop grown.
 The pre harvest conditions
which have an important
bearing on vase life of flower
are;
A. SELECTION OF VARIETY
B. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
(1) Light
(2)Temperature
(3)Nutrition
(4)Diseases and Pest

9. 9
HARVESTING OF FLOWER
Harvesting of flower depends upon
A. Right Time
B. Method Of Harvest
C. Optimum Stage Of Harvest

10. 10
RightTime
 Flower should always be harvested
when temperature is mild because high
temperature leads to faster respiration
rates and also cause excessive water
loss.
 Flowers should therefore, be
harvested in the morning or in the
evening.
10

11. 11
METHOD OF HARVEST
 In Gerbera, Pluck the flower rather than
cutting. After plucking cut the heel of the stem
by giving angular cut and immediately put in
water.
 In Carnation, the best place of the cutting
stem is the area where leaves are well spaced
and where at least 2 axillary shoots appear. The
cut given on the stem should be smooth to
avoid injury to flower stem or to the mother
plant. Stems are usually cut with sharp knife or
secateurs.

12. 12
HARVESTING OF CARNATION FLOWERS
ACCORDING TO MARKET REQUIREMENT
OPTIMUM STAGE OF HARVESTING

13. 13
OPTIMUM STAGE OF HARVESTING IN GERBERA

14. 14
FLORAL PRESERVATIVES
(A) Role Of Floral
Preservative:-
I. Pulsing Solution
II. Bud Opening Solution
III. Holding Or Vase Solution
(B) Constituents Of Floral
Preservatives:-
I. Water
II. Sugar
III. Biocides
IV. Acidifying Agents
V. Anti- Ethylene Compound

15. 15
POST HARVESTING FACTORS AFFECTING VASE LIFE
(A) Depletion rate of carbohydrates
(B) Xylem blockage
(C) Storage of Flower
(D) Grading
(E) Packing
(F) Transportation
15

16. 16
XYLEM BLOCKAGE
(A) STEM BLOCKAGE BY AIR
When stems are normally cut, air is drawn into the stems for a
short distance. These air plugs or embolisms can prevent the normal
movement of water through the stem when the flowers are placed in
water.
(B) PHYSIOLOGICAL BLOCKAGE
With very few exceptions, the amount of water taken up by flower
declines with time. The cause for this decrease in ability to taken up
water is called “Physiological Blockage”.
(C) PHYSICAL BLOCKAGE BY MICRO ORGANISMS
The effects of bacteria, fungi and other micro organism can often
be seen when one allows foliage to remain in the vase water to rot,
fouling and clouding the solution. Micro organisms and their chemical
product plug the stem ends, restricting water absorption. They
continue to multiply inside and eventually block the xylem tubes.

17. 17
MICRO ORGANISMS WHICH CAUSE THE XYLEM BLOCKAGE
BACTERIA
Pseudomonas enterobacter
Erwinia
Bacillus
Corynebacteria
Aeromonas
YEAST
Candida spp.
Rhodolorula rubra
Saccharomyces spp.
FUNGI
Botrytis cinerea
Mucor hiemalis
Penicillium spp.
Rhizophus stolonifer
Verticillium
Aspergillus
Alternaria alternate

18. 18
STORAGE OF FLOWERS
Factors Affecting Storage Life
A. Quality of the flowers
B. Stage of harvest
C. Temperature
D. Relative humidity
E. Light
F. Ethylene
G. Pathogen

19. 19
STORAGE METHODS
(A) Refrigerated storage
Wet storage
Dry storage
(B) Controlled atmospheric
(CA) storage
(C) Hypobaric storage

20. 20
Storage Cut flowers Storage
Temperature
Maximal
storage period
Dry Carnation 0-1oC 16-24 Weeks
Gerbera 1oC 2 Days
Wet Carnation 4oC 4 Weeks
Gerbera 4oC 3-4 Weeks
IARI, New Delhi Singh et al. (2001)
Refrigerated storage of gerbera and carnation cut flowers.

21. 21
GRADING OF FLOWER
 Major Parameters Of Grading
Appearance
Harvesting maturity
Blemishes OR Injuries due to
diseases
Attack of insect or pest
Colour and size of bud or flower
Straightness
Strength as well as length of the
stem.
Free from physiological disorders
such as stem break (in gerbera)
and calyx splitting (in carnation)

22. 22
GRADING OF GERBERA
GradeNo. Stem
length
(cm)
Flower
diameter
(cm)
Preference
(%)
1 > 60 > 12 40
2 50-60 11-10 20
3 40-50 10-9 20
4 30-40 9-8 15
5 < 30 8-7 5
U.S.A., Society of American Florists

23. 23
GRADING OF CARNATION
Grade Bud stage Minimum
flower
diameter
(mm)
Minimum
length
overall
(cm)
Blue (Fancy) Tight 50 55
Fairly tight 62
Open 75
Red (Standard) Tight 44 43
Fairly tight 56
Open 69
Green (Short) Tight None 30
Fairly tight None
Open None
U.S.A., Society of American Florists

24. 24
PACKING OF FLOWERS
Dimension of packing boxes based on,
Stem Length
Type of flower
Proper utilization of space in cargo
Gerberas are packed in the boxes of size 100X30X10
cm3. Each box contain 50 flowers with plastic
minisleeves to protect the flower. (Gerbera packed
individually to avoid brushing of petals.)
Carnation is packed in corrugated cardboard of size
122X50X30cm3. This package can accommodate 80-
100 carnation. Bunches of 20-25 flowers are placed in
these boxes.

25. 25
Mechanical Bunching
25

26. 26
PACKING AND STORAGE OF GERBERA FLOWERS
26

27. 27
PACKING MATERIALS OF
CUT FLOWERS
CORRUGATED CARD BOARD
BOXES
27

28. 28
TRANSPORTATION OF FLOWERS
By air and refrigerated vans
Sea shipment of flowers has also come into
practice in the recent years and is also very
economical.
The flowers should be kept cool in transit.
Therefore, flower and the boxes are
essentially cooled before transport.
Speedy dispatch of flowers from the farm to
airport and final destination is essential.

29. 29
REFRIGERATED TRANSPORTATION VAN
29

30. 30
CARE OF FLOWERS AT FLORIST’S SHOPS AND THE CONSUMER LEVEL
 When the flowers are received after transit,
they might have lost considerable amount of
water and sometimes the leaves show wilting.
Basal 2-3 cm portions of such stems should be
recut. The stems should be put neck deep in
water or preferably in acidifying solutions such
as citric acid (300 ppm). This process called
hydration, restores turgidity of the flowers and
improves their vase life. Then put in floral
preservatives.
 Leaves from the lower submerged portion of the
stem should removed.
 The damaged flowers from the bunch should
discarded.
 Vases should also be kept clean. Vase water
should be changed daily.

31. 31
FLOWERS AT FLOWER SHOP
31

32. 32
GERBERA
32

33. 33
Table 3. Mean performance of gerbera genotypes of Horticultural
Research Station Yercaud
Accession
No.
Vase life
(days)
Accession
No.
Vase life
(days)
GJ-1 6.00 GJ-26 6.95
GJ-2 4.00 GJ-27 6.60
GJ-3 4.50 GJ-28 5.30
GJ-4 6.45 GJ-29 6.95
GJ-5 5.00 GJ-30 4.00
GJ-6 4.95 GJ-31 4.00
GJ-7 5.00 GJ-32 7.30
GJ-8 8.00 GJ-33 7.50
GJ-9 5.50 GJ-34 3.95
GJ-10 6.10 GJ-35 5.30
GJ-11 5.90 GJ-36 7.60
GJ-12 5.25 GJ-37 6.00
GJ-13 5.00 GJ-38 6.00
GJ-14 6.50 GJ-39 6.60
GJ-15 6.25 GJ-40 8.00
GJ-16 6.35 GJ-41 7.90
GJ-17 4.00 GJ-42 5.10
GJ-18 5.75 GJ-43 5.05
GJ-19 6.95 GJ-44 8.10
GJ-20 7.55 GJ-45 7.35
GJ-21 4.15 GJ-46 6.35
GJ-22 7.20 GJ-47 7.00
GJ-23 8.55 GJ-48 5.30
GJ-24 8.55 GJ-49 7.30
GJ-25 5.00 C.D. at 5% 0.16
HRS, TNAU (Tamil Nadu) Jawaharlal et al. (1998)

34. 34
Variety Flowering character Qualitative characters
Flower
diameter (cm)
Flower stalk
length (cm)
Flower colour ‘A’ grade Vase life in
water
Marmara 10.02 61.57 Azalea Pink 87.03 7.33
Farida 9.63 59.67 Primrose
Yellow
90.43 8.33
Sunway 10.53 60.87 Orpiment
Orange
85.96 8.00
Yanara 11.09 70.72 Current Red 94.53 7.00
Cabana 8.98 56.79 Mimosa
Yellow
84.73 8.67
Aida 9.15 55.23 Burnt Yellow 83.83 7.00
Charmande
r
9.47 59.80 Rose Opal 85.40 7.67
Thalassa 9.47 54.95 Mimosa
Yellow
82.73 9.33
Skylina 11.69 55.16 Indian Orange 83.20 7.67
Tonneke 8.92 58.32 Yellow Ochre 81.40 6.67
Sangria 9.49 59.74 Dutch
vermillion
88.16 8.67
C.D. at 5% 0.691 3.921 2.963 1.519
Table 4. Performance Of Some Exotic Gerbera Cultivars Under Naturally
Ventilated Polyhouse Conditions.
Pune Dhane et al. (2004) 34

35. 35
Table 5. Effects of media on vase life of Gerbera flowers cv. Mammut.
S1 : Coirpith + Garden Soil + FYM (1:1:1) (Coir pith media)
S2 : Sawdust + Garden Soil + FYM (1:1:1) (sawdust media)
S3 : Sand + Red Soil + FYM (1:1:1) (Commercial mixture)
S4 : Sand + FYM (1:1)
S5 : Red Soil + FYM (1:1)
Treatment Flower Stalk
Length (cm)
Flower Diameter
(cm)
Vase Life (days)
S1 42.62 7.48 13.3
S2 32.20 6.93 11.9
S3 38.03 7.08 12.2
S4 41.33 7.25 12.4
S5 30.15 6.58 11.4
SEd 0.41 0.03 0.5
CD (P=0.05) 0.81 0.06 0.9
Annamalai Nagar Sekar and Sujata (2001)
35

36. 36
Treatment Flower Stalk
Length (cm)
Flower
Diameter (cm)
Vase Life
(days)
G1 34.88 6.84 10.7
G2 36.62 6.93 11.8
G3 37.76 7.13 12.7
G4 38.20 7.29 13.7
SEd 0.36 0.02 0.4
CD (0.05) 0.72 0.05 0.8
G1 : Water spray; G2 : GA3 100 ppm; G3 : GA3 150 ppm and G4 : GA3 200 ppm
Table 6. Effects of GA3 on vase life of Gerbera flowers cv. Mammut.
Annamalai Nagar Sekar and Sujata (2001)

37. 37
Treatment Vase Life (days) Treatment Vase Life (days)
S1G1 12.4 S3G3 12.4
S1G2 12.8 S3G4 14.2
S1G3 13.6 S4G1 11.0
S1G4 14.2 S4G2 12.4
S2G1 96 S4G3 12.8
S2G2 11.2 S4G4 13.2
S2G3 13.0 S5G1 10.0
S2G4 14.0 S5G2 10.8
S3G1 10.6 S5G3 11.8
S3G2 11.6 S5G4 12.8
CD (P=0.05) 1.9
Table 7. Interactive effect of media and GA3 on vase life of Gerbera
flowers cv. Mammut.
Annamalai Nagar Sekar and Sujata (2001)
37

38. 38
Treatments
Total
solution
uptake(ml)
Vase life
(days)
Chemical
T1 KMS 250 ppm 11.57 8.13
T2 Al2 (SO4)3 100 ppm 10.93 7.36
T3 Al2 (SO4)3 500 ppm 10.17 7.13
T4 Ascorbic acid 1% 11.21 7.90
T5 AgNO3 20 ppm 11.93 8.23
T6 Sucrose 2% 12.51 9.20
T7 Sucrose 6% 12.83 9.43
T8 Sucrose 2% + AgNO3 10 ppm 13.21 11.50
T9 Sucrose 4% + AgNO3 20 ppm 14.43 13.87
T10 Sucrose 6% + AgNO3 30 ppm 14.07 12.10
Natural
T11 Coconut water 40% 14.20 12.07
T12 Coconut water 50% 13.57 14.26
T13 Coconut water 60% 11.83 12.20
Control
T14 Tap water 9.00 6.00
T15 Distilled water 9.40 6.13
C.D. at 5% 1.19 1.15
Table 8. Effect of natural and chemical preservatives on vase life of cut gerbera
CARI, Port Blair Nair et al. (2000)

39. 39
9.48
12.84
6.06
0
5
10
15
Days
Chemical Natural Water
Holding Solution
Fig 1.
39

40. 40
Table 9(a). Effect of season and chemical preservatives on total vase life
(days) of gerbera cv. ‘Ornella’
GAU, Navsari Abnare (2001)
Vase life (days)
Season
Treatments
Summer Rainy winter
Mean
T0 -Control 7.91 7.09 8.25 7.75
T1 - Sucrose 1% 10.77 7.91 12.00 10.22
T2 -Sucrose 2% 10.50 7.50 11.81 9.93
T3 -Sucrose 3% 11.22 8.09 12.50 10.60
T4 -Sucrose 3% + 0.01% 8-HQ 12.63 10.77 16.45 13.28
T5 -Sucrose 3% + 0.02% 8-HQ 13.08 11.00 16.99 13.69
T6 -Sucrose 3% + 0.03% 8-HQ 12.33 10.51 15.91 12.91
T7 -Sucrose 3% + 0.01% AgNO3 11.75 9.41 14.89 12.01
T8 -Sucrose 3% + 0.02% AgNO3 12.00 9.91 15.23 12.38
T9 -Sucrose 3%v + 0.03% AgNO3 11.41 8.99 14.41 11.60
T10 - Sucrose 3% + 0.025% Al2 (SO4)3 11.05 8.66 13.50 11.07
T11 -Sucrose 3% + 0.050% Al2 (SO4)3 10.71 8.19 13.09 10.66
T12 -Sucrose 3% + 0.075% Al2 (SO4)3 10.55 7.99 12.71 10.41
Mean 11.22 8.92 13.67
CD at 5%
Season - 0.23 S X T - 0.84
Treatment - 0.48

41. 41
Table 9(b). Effect of season and chemical preservatives on useful vase life
(days) of gerbera cv. ‘Ornella’
GAU, Navsari Abnare (2001)
Useful vase life (days)
SeasonTreatments
Summer Rainy Winte
r
Mean
T0 -Control 4.75 4.06 6.00 4.93
T1 -Sucrose 1% 7.20 5.50 9.00 7.23
T2 -Sucrose 2% 7.0 5.00 8.44 6.81
T3 -Sucrose 3% 7.91 6.66 9.83 8.13
T4 -Sucrose 3% + 0.01% 8-HQ 10.21 8.41 12.27 10.29
T5 -Sucrose 3% + 0.02% 8-HQ 10.83 8.66 13.83 11.10
T6 -Sucrose 3% + 0.03% 8-HQ 9.83 7.55 11.22 9.53
T7 -Sucrose 3% + 0.01% AgNO3 9.10 7.31 11.00 9.13
T8 -Sucrose 3% + 0.02% AgNO3 9.33 8.02 11.71 9.69
T9 - Sucrose 3%v + 0.03% AgNO3 9.00 7.01 10.55 8.85
T10 - Sucrose 3% + 0.025% Al2 (SO4)3 7.78 6.49 9.41 7.89
T11 -Sucrose 3% + 0.050% Al2 (SO4)3 7.19 5.89 9.00 7.36
T12 -Sucrose 3% + 0.075% Al2 (SO4)3 7.00 5.09 8.33 6.80
Mean 8.24 6.59 10.04
CD at 5%
Season - 0.18 S X T - 0.65
Treatment - 0.38

42. 42
Table 10. Interaction effect of different chemicals and stalk lengths (cm) on
useful life and vase life of gerbera flowers
GAU, Navsari Dabhi (2003)
Treatments
Vase life of
flowers
(days)
Useful life
of flowers
(days)
Control (D.W.) + 30 cm S.L. 6.48 4.14
Control (D.W.) + 40 cm S.L. 7.69 4.86
Control (D.W.) + 50 cm S.L. 7.88 5.12
Control (D.W.) + 60 cm S.L. 8.60 6.06
Sucrose 4% + 30 cm S.L. 5.79 5.63
Sucrose 4% + 40 cm S.L. 7.86 6.19
Sucrose 4% + 50 cm S.L. 8.5 6.72
Sucrose 4% + 60 cm S.L. 9.7 7.30
Sucrose 4% + 8-HQC (250 ppm) + 30 cm S.L. 7.98 6.91
Sucrose 4% + 8-HQC (250 ppm) + 40 cm S.L. 11.3 10.12
Sucrose 4% + 8-HQC (250 ppm) + 50 cm S.L. 12.3 10.74
Sucrose 4% + 8-HQC (250 ppm) + 60 cm S.L. 13.65 11.69
Sucrose 4% + Al2(So4)3 (100 ppm) + 30 cm S.L. 7.76 6.51
Sucrose 4% + Al2(So4)3 (100 ppm) + 40 cm S.L. 9.39 7.19
Sucrose 4% + Al2(So4)3 (100 ppm) + 50 cm S.L. 10.2 7.93
Sucrose 4% + Al2(So4)3 (100 ppm) + 60 cm S.L. 11.2 9.77
Sucrose 4% + Citric acid (250 ppm) + 30 cm S.L. 11.3 5.94
Sucrose 4% + Citric acid (250 ppm) + 40 cm S.L. 6.8 7.23
Sucrose 4% + Citric acid (250 ppm) + 50 cm S.L. 9.46 9.92
Sucrose 4% + Citric acid (250 ppm) + 60 cm S.L. 11.36 10.16
C.D. at 5% 0.73 0.52

43. 43
CARNATION

44. 44
Cultivars Length of flower
stalk (cm)
Diameter of the
flower (cm)
Vase life in water
(days)
Impala 54.22 6.93 8.37
Tempo 56.53 5.85 9.47
Tasma 53.84 5.27 8.33
Salmonca 52.67 5.08 9.23
Redezeuous 58.56 5.90 8.57
Murica 60.55 6.81 7.87
Sunrise 56.45 6.53 8.33
Prado 53.72 6.34 8.63
Red Aphredile 51.30 5.86 8.53
New Tempo 49.70 4.92 7.67
Star Light 60.62 7.10 10.33
Menon 55.44 6.12 8.33
Pinto 52.20 4.53 7.33
Exotica 48.70 6.44 7.83
CD (0.05) 3.52 0.87 1.45
Table 11. Performance of carnation (standard type) cultivars at HRS, Yercaud.
HRS (Yercaud) Praneetha et al.(2003)44

45. 45
Treatment Concentration Vase life(days)
Polyhouse Open field
Red
Corso
Carbaret Red
Corso
Carbaret
8-HQC 200ppm 8.67 10.00 5.67 6.67
AgSo4 100ppm 8.34 9.34 4.67 5.67
ZnSo4 100ppm 7.00 9.00 4.67 5.00
CuSo4 0.1 % Not
opened
Not
opened
Not
opened
Not
opened
Distilled
water
Control 6.00 6.00 3.67 4.34
C.D. at 5% 2.66 2.34 1.94 1.81
Table-12 : Effect of 8-HQC (8-hydroxyquinoline citrate), silver suphate,
zinc sulphate and copper sulphate on the vase life of carnation.
IARI, New Delhi Naveenkumar et al. (1999)45

46. 46
Age of the plants 1 year 2 year 3 year
Flower life (days) 15.5 b 16.1 a 16.3 a
Petal sugar content
(%)
5.4 b 5.7 a 5.7 a
Head diameter (mm) 67.6 a 66.5 a 63.8 b
Stem length (cm) 51.6 a 52.0 a 49.4 b
Table 13. Mean of STS treated flowers of cut carnation cv. Aster from
1-3 year-old-plants (mean of four seasons).
Mean separation in the same row by DMRT at P < 0.05.
Celikel et al. (1995)
46

47. 47
Harvesting stages Vase life(days)
Stage 1 (Tight bud) 7.4 a
Stage 2 (Cross bud) 6.8 b
Stage 3 (Paint bud) 4.6 c
Stage 4 (Fully open) 3.8 d
Table 14. Effect of different harvesting stages on the vase life of
carnation flower after storage.
P = 0.01 Menguc and Usta (1994)

48. 48
STS treatment
after harvest
(days)
Total life
(Days)
Longevity after
STS treatment
(Days)
0 (no STS) 6.7az ---
0 12.5d 12.5
1 11.8cd 10.8
2 11.4c 9.4
3 11.6cd 8.6
5 10.4b 5.4
6 10.0b 4.0
Table 15. Comparison of STS, applied after different intervals at 22ºC
following harvest, on longevity of carnations cv. White Sim.
Uni. Of California (Davis) Kofranek et al. (1982)48
zMean separation in the same row by DMRT at P < 0.05.

49. 49
Treat
mentZ
% flowers fully open,
with decorative value,
after
Flower
longevity
(days)
8days 11days 14days
Water 0 0 0 -
TOG 100 100a 90a 15.0a
TBZ 100 100a 100b 16.2b
8HQ 100 70b 45c 14.2c
Table 16. Effect of TBZ on quality and longevity of bud cut “White Sim”
carnations.
Agricultural Res. Org. (Israel) Apelbaum and Katchansky (1977)
Mean separation in the same row by DMRT at P < 0.05.

50. 50
Treat
mentZ
% flowers fully open,with
decorative value, after
Flower
longevity
(days)
7days 8days 9days
Water 0 0 0 0
TOG 100 100 90a 11.8a
TBZ 100 90 80a 11.5a
8HQ 100 100 45b 9.0b
Table 17. Effect of TBZ on quality and longevity of bud cut “Red Sim”
carnations.
Agricultural Res. Org. (Israel) Apelbaum and Katchansky (1977)
Mean separation in the same row by DMRT at P < 0.05.

51. 51
Treatment Vase life (days) Degree of bud
opening at the
wilting (scale)
Regina Naslada Regina Naslada
Control-water 4.4±0.36 4.2±0.14 3 3
AOA 250mg/l 11.9±1.12 12.3±0.87 5 5
AOA 250mg/l
+ sucrose 4%
11.7±0.97 12.7±1.07 5 5
Sucrose 4% 6.6±0.17 7.1±0.21 4 4
Table 18. Effect of AOA and sucrose on the post-harvest behaviour of cut
spray-carnation flowers.
Bulgaria Yakimova et al. (1997)
Data processed statistically by student’s T-criteria at p ≤ 0.05

52. 52
Treatment Vase life
(days)
Control 8.2±0.1az
1-MCP 15.8±0.5b
STS 20.0±0.9c
Table 19. Effects of 1-MCP and STS on the vase life of cut carnation
flowers.
Takamori Ichimura et al. (2002)
Mean separation in the same row by DMRT at P < 0.05.

53. 53
Treatment Vase life
[days]
Vase life [%]* Flower
diameter
[mm]
Water (control) 6.4 a* 100 76.5 a
BA 0.05 mM
BA 0.1 mM
8.1 b
7.1 ab
123
107
78.8 ab
78.5 ab
KIN 0.05 mM
KIN 0.1 mM
9.6 c
7.5 ab
145
114
80.0 b
79.0 b
Table 20. Effect of pulse treatment with benzyladenine (BA) and kinetin
(KIN) on longevity and flower diameter of ‘Dolce Vita’ cut carnations.
Res. Inst. of Pomology and Flori.(Poland) Anna and Danuta(2003)

54. 54
a
a
a
b
a
b
b
b
b
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
'Domingo' 'Impala' 'Tanga'
vaselife[days] control
BA 0.1 mM
BA 0.05 mM
Figure 2. Effect of pulse treatment with benzyladenine on longevity of
cut carnations (‘Domingo’, ‘Impala’, and ‘Tanga’ cultivars)
Res. Inst. of Pomology and Flori.(Poland) Anna and Danuta(2003)

55. 55
a
a
a
b
ab
ab
b
b
b
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
'Domingo' 'Impala' 'Tanga'
vaselife[days] control
KIN 0.1 mM
KIN 0.05 mM
Figure 3. Effect of pulse treatment with kinetin (KIN) on longevity of
cut carnations (‘Domingo’, ‘Impala’, and ‘Tanga’ cultivars).
Res. Inst. of Pomology and Flori.(Poland) Anna and Danuta(2003)

56. 56
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
days
ethyleneproduction(nlgf.w.
-1
h
-1
)
water
KIN
Figure 4. Effect of pulse treatments with 0.05 mM KIN on ethylene
production in cut carnation ‘Dolce Vita’ flowers.
Res. Inst. of Pomology and Flori.(Poland) Anna and Danuta(2003)
56

57. 57
Cultivar Treatment Vase life
[days]
Treatment Vase life
[days]
‘Dolce Vita’
water (control)
STS 0.2 mM
7.0 a
14.9 b
water (control)
AOA 2 mM
AOA 4 mM
6.6 a
11.1 b
13.1 c
‘Impala’
water (control)
STS 0.2 mM
5.5 a
9.5 b
water (control)
AOA 2 mM
AOA 4 mM
5.5 a
7.5 b
9.3 c
‘Domingo’
water (control)
STS 0.2 mM
8.5 a
20.0 b
water (control)
AOA 2 mM
AOA 4 mM
11.1 a
17.7 b
17.6 b
‘Tanga’
water (control)
STS 0.2 mM
7.7 a
13.9 b
water (control)
AOA 2 mM
AOA 4 mM
7.1 a
9.7 b
10.7 b
‘Charlotte’
water (control)
STS 0.2 mM
11.4 a
20.3 b
water (control)
AOA 2 mM
AOA 4 mM
11.4 a
14.0 b
13.5 b
Poland Anna and Danuta(2003)
Table 21. Effect of pulse treatment with silver thiosulphate (STS)
and aminooxyacetic acid (AOA) on longevity of cut carnations

58. 58
Cultivar Treatment Vase life
[days]
Treatment Vase life
[days]
‘Dolce Vita’
water (control)
AIB 2 mM
AIB 4 mM
6.6 a
8.5 b
9.1 b
water (control)
ATA 50 mM
ATA 100 mM
6.6 a
8.2 b
7.9 b
‘Impala’
water (control)
AIB 2 mM
AIB 4 mM
5.5 a
5.9 ab
6.7 b
water (control)
ATA 50 mM
ATA 100 mM
5.5 a
6.5 b
6.4 b
‘Domingo’
water (control)
AIB 2 mM
AIB 4 mM
11.1 a
11.1 a
13.1 b
water (control)
ATA 50 mM
ATA 100 mM
11.1 a
12.1 a
11.5 a
‘Tanga’
water (control)
AIB 2 mM
AIB 4 mM
7.6 a
9.3 b
9.9 b
water (control)
ATA 50 mM
ATA 100 mM
7.2 a
10.9 b
10.8 b
‘Charlotte’
water (control)
AIB 2 mM
AIB 4 mM
11.4 a
13.6 b
14.9 b
water (control)
ATA 50 mM
ATA 100 mM
10.8 a
19.5 b
20.1 b
Poland Anna and Danuta(2003)
Table 22. Effect of pulse treatment with -aminoisobutyric acid (AIB)
and aminotriazole (ATA) on longevity of cut carnations

59. 59
Genetically modified carnations
Carnations with a longer vase life are also being developed using
gene technology. Gene technology has allowed to slow down the aging
process of carnations by inserting an extra copy of a carnation gene
into the plant. The added gene stops the plant from producing ethylene,
which is responsible for the deterioration of flowers once they are cut
from the plant. Carnations modified using the long vase life technology
will last, on average, 16 days in water. This is double the life of non-GM
varieties.
Growers, consumers and the environment benefit
 An alternative to harmful chemicals such as silver; silver
preservative
solutions have already been banned at Dutch auctions.
Reduced chemical and labour costs currently associated with
changing the water and solutions.
 Increased opportunities to expand export markets with flowers that
better survive long distance transport.
The environment benefits from this technology because the need for
harmful chemicals such as silver is reduced. Consumers and retailers
will one day enjoy flowers that last longer, and retailers may no longer
need to be concerned about whether growers have applied the correct
treatment solutions to the flowers.
http://www.florigene.com.au Florigene Limited, Australia
59

60. 60
It can be concluded that prolonging vase life
of gerbera and carnation cut flowers the pre-
harvesting factors, harvesting of flower and post-
harvesting factors are to be considered. Vase life
of gerbera and carnation can be improved
significantly through use of sucrose along with
preservatives like 8-HQC, STS and growth
regulator like kinetin. The vase life of gerbera cut
flower can also be increased through use of
natural preservative (coconut water- 50%) as a
holding solution. The vase life of carnation cut
flower can also be increased by anti-ethylene
compounds like, STS (0.2 mM), AOA (4 mM), ATA
(100 mM), AIB (4 mM) as a pulsing solution.
CONCLUSION

61. 61
THANKS