Influence of bio fertilizers, pre harvest spray of chemicals and organic liquid fertilizers on postharvest physiology of gerbera

Abstract

An experiment was carried out to study the individual and interaction effect of bio fertilizers (Azotobacter and VAM) as soil application and chemicals (spermine and salicylic acid @ 25 and 50 ppm each) and organic liquid fertilizers (banana pseudo stem sap @ 0.5% and 1.0% and vermiwash @ 4%) as foliar spray on gerbera var. Alcatraz. Among the individual effects plants inoculated with bio fertilizers resulted in enhanced postharvest life of gerbera flowers as compared to uninoculated. Further, pre harvest foliar spray with spermine @ 25 ppm improved the postharvest physiology and vase life of gerbera which was followed by vermiwash @ 4%. Further, among the interaction effects, treatment combination of bio fertilisers along pre harvest foliar spray of spermine @ 25 ppm recorded minimum change in fresh weight of the flower (21.02%), higher water uptake by the flower (28.96 ml), total soluble sugar (39.90 mg/g), protein (30.72 mg/g), catalase activity (7.55 mM/min/g protein), peroxidase activity (48.19 mM/min/g protein) in the petal tissue and extended the vase life (9.29 days), which was followed by treatment combination of bio fertilizers along the vermiwash @ 4%. Thus, the treatment combinations of bio fertilizers along the foliar spray of spermine @ 25 ppm and vermiwash @ 4% improved the postharvest physiology and enhanced the vase life of gerbera.