Locally available preservatives effect on postharvest quality and extension of vase life of cut chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora) cv. Arctic queen

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out in the Department of Floriculture and landscape Architecture laboratory, College of Horticulture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad during the year 2017-2018, 2018-2019. The main objective of the investigation was to find out the efficacy of different locally available preservatives on physical (fresh weight of flower, diameter of flower, percent neck bending, vase life and over all acceptability of flowers), physiological (water uptake, transpiration loss of water, fresh weight change, relative water content, chlorophyll content in calyx), biochemical parameters (TSS of petals, pH of vase solution, optical density of vase solution, electrolyte leakage) in two days interval during the vase life period of cut chrysanthemums. The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design with factorial concept and replicated thrice. Among the different locally available preservatives studied, pongamia seed oil 1 percent was very effective in increasing the fresh weight of flower (6.70 g), flower diameter (6.3 cm), water uptake (19.18 g), fresh weight change (95.68 g), relative water content (83.94%), cholrophyll content of calyx (34.91), Total soluble solids (5.8 degrees), over all acceptability of flowers (9.46), vase life of chrysanthemum cut flowers (15.93 days). It has led to lowest electrolyte leakage (76.21%) and transpiration loss of water (11.36 g/f).