Effect of Microwave on Visual Quality and Vase Life of Cut Gerbera Flowers

A study of the effect of microwave on the visual quality and the vase life of cut gerbera flowers reveals that pretreated with microwave at 10% power level for ten seconds,the cut gerbera flowers have greater ability of anti-senescence and freshness preservation,the water absorbing ability of the flowering woods are improved and the water potential is elevated,thus helping to maintain the equilibrium of water content.The MDA of the treated flowers decrease by 0.05 μmol/g,the permeability of plasma membrane by 14.47% and the change rate of refreshing quality by 0.77%,while their diameter increases by 0.06 cm and the vase life is elongated by 1.2 day.The anti-staling agent,containing 6% sucrose and 0.5 mmol/L CoCl2,has a synergetic effect.