Improvement of Flower Quality and Vase Life of Low Temperature Stored Gladiolus Cut Spikes by Pre-storage Pulsing and Vase Solution Treatments

The role of pre-storage pulsing and vase solution in improving the flower quality and vase life of low temperature stored gladiolous cut spikes cv. Peter Pears was investigated. The pre-storage pulse treatment (300 ppm 8-HQ for one h and 20 % sucrose for 12 h) and post-storage vase solution treatment (300 ppm 8-HQ + 5% sucrose) significantly improved the cut flower quality and vase life of the polypropylene (60 µ) packaged and low temperature (6–10°C) stored gladiolus cut spikes for 5, 10 and 15 day duration. The treatment of pre-storage pulse and the post-storage vase solution significantly improved the fresh weight and dry weight, water uptake of the low temperature stored cut spikes. These treatments recorded higher content of total soluble sugars and anthocyanins and carotene pigments in the petals of the cut spikes on 4th day after storage (DAS) as compared to fresh and untreated stored cut spikes. The treatments, further diminished the peroxidation of lipids in the petals and maintained higher membrane stability index (%) of the petal tissue. Thus, the pre-storage pulse treatment of 300ppm 8-HQ for 1 h, followed by 20% sucrose for 12 h and post-storage vase solution enriched with 300 ppm 8-HQ and 5% sucrose significantly improved the flower quality with higher retention of petal pigments and extended the vase life (17 and 14 day, respectively) of the polypropylene packaged and low temperature stored (storage duration: 5 and 10 day) gladiolus cut spikes over untreated stored (vase life: 7 and 6 day) and fresh cut spikes (vase life: 8.5 day).