Effect of different vase solutions on orchids cv. Emma white for improving the post-harvest life of cut spikes

Abstract

The present experiment entitled “Effect of different vase solutions on orchids cv. Emma white for improving the post-harvest life of cut spikes” was conducted during Kharif season in year 2022-23 at Pt. K.L. Shukla College of Horticulture and Research Station, Rajnandgaon. The experiment was laid out in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 13 treatments and three replications. The treatment consists of T0 (Tap water (Control)), T1 (Sucrose 5%), T2 (Glucose 5%), T3 (Salicylic Acid 150 ppm + Sucrose 5%), T4 (Salicylic Acid 150 ppm + Glucose 5%) 165 g ha-1 at 3 DAS), T5 (Citric Acid 200 ppm + Sucrose 5%), T6 (Citric acid 200 ppm + Glucose 5%), T7 (Aluminium Sulfate [Al2(SO4)3] 300 ppm + Sucrose 5%), T8 (Aluminium Sulfate [Al2(SO4)3] 300 ppm + Glucose 5%), T9 (Citric acid 150 ppm + Aluminium Sulfate [Al2(SO4)3] 350 ppm), T10 (Citric acid 200 ppm + Aluminium Sulfate [Al2(SO4)3] 300 ppm), T11 (Citric acid 150 ppm + Salicylic Acid 200 ppm) and T9 (Citric acid 150 ppm + Salicylic Acid 100 ppm). The results showed that the Salicylic Acid 150 ppm + Sucrose 5% treatment (T3) performed the best in terms of days to first floret wilting, days to first petal dropping, diameter of first floret (cm), floret diameter (cm), vase life (days) of spikes and days of fading of last flower. This was followed closely by the treatment involving sequential application of Salicylic Acid 150 ppm + Glucose 5% (T4) and Aluminium Sulfate [Al2(SO4)3] 300 ppm + Sucrose 5% (T7). The Tap water (Control) treatment (T0) consistently gave the lowest values for all the parameters measured. Overall, the treatments included different concentrations of sucrose, glucose, salicylic acid, citric acid and aluminium Sulfate applied individually or in combination as vase solutions. Results showed that the treatment with Salicylic Acid 150 ppm + Sucrose 5% performed the best in prolonging days to first floret wilting, days to first petal dropping, floret diameter, vase life of spikes and days of fading of last flower.