EFFECT OF ROSEMARY EXTRACT ON VASE LIFE AND SOME QUALITATIVE CHARACTERISTIC OF CUT CARNATION FLOWER (DIANTHUS CARYOPHYLLUS CV. WHITE LIBERTY)

The vase life of cut carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus) is short due to some post harvest problems leading to its low postharvest quality. Flower longevity is varied in different cultivars of cut carnation. But cause of short vase life was most reported to be loss of carbohydrate content or stem vessel blockage. Therefore in the current research effect of several antimicrobial compounds on postharvest life of carnation cut flowers (D. caryophyllus L.) cvs. yellow librity were investigated. Carnation’s cut flowers were kept in pots containing rosemary extract (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25%) and water as control. In all treatments, 6% sucrose was used. The result showed that 25% rosemary extract was the best treatment and increased vase life of cut flowers until 24.6 days in laboratory conditions. Observations indicated that rosemary treatments with its antimicrobial effect inhibited the growth of microorganisms in vase solution and with increasing water uptake considerably extended the vase-life of cut flowers of carnation.   Key words: vase life, cut flowers, dianthus, rosemary extract, silver nitrate.