Effect of nano silver and silver nitrate on vase life of gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii) cv. Madagascar

Abstract

A study was conducted to find out the effect of nano silver particles (NSPs) on vase life of gerbera cut flower at Post harvest laboratory, College of Horticulture, Dr. YSRHU, Anantharajupeta. The treatment T11- Nano silver @ 10 ppm + sucrose @ 2% is found be significantly superior over other treatments and control. It recorded maximum cumulative water uptake (96.60 g), transpirational loss of water (95.06 g), water balance (1.54 g), fresh weight of flower (15.77 g), vase life (19.77 days) and the lowest bacterial count in vase solution (1.03 X 106 CFU ml-1) was observed at the end of the vase life in 10 ppm nano silver whereas the flowers held in distilled water (control) recorded minimum water uptake (21.93 g), transpirational loss of water (28.23 g), water balance (-6.30 g), fresh weight of flower (10.80 g), vase life (19.77 days) and highest bacterial count (9.18 X 106 CFU ml-1).