Effect of sucrose and silver nitrate on flower quality, vase-life and correlation in gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii)

An experiment was conducted to find out the response of silver nitrate on post-harvest life of cut flowers of gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii Bolus ex Hooker F). Six varieties, Rionegro (V1), Manizales (V2), Galileo (V3), Tecala (V4), Marinilla (V5) and Pia (V6); four levels of vase solution, tap water (C1), silver nitrate at 25ppm (C2), 50ppm (C3), 75ppm (C4) along with sucrose 4 per cent, respectively, were used under factorial completely randomized design with three replications. Significant differences in varieties of gerbera, vase solution and their interaction were found. The lower concentration of silver nitrate in vase solution found to be better for prolonged vase-life (13.66 days), increased fresh weight on second day (29.66g), fourth day (29.00g) and sixth day (31.00g) in Marinilla. Maximum acceptability of flower colour was obtained in Manizales, Marinilla and Pia. The-vase life of gerbera had positively and highly significant association with acceptability of cut flowers on 6th day (0.721), followed by acceptability of cut flowers on 4th day (0.712), fresh weight on 1st day (0.626) and fresh weight on 4th day (0.538), whereas it showed significant negative association with pH of holding solution (−0.438). Cultivars Marinilla, Manizales and Pia showed greater acceptability, better freshness, colour and improved vase-life in vase solution sucrose 4 per cent with 25ppm silver nitrate and was observed relatively better vase solution for gerbera cut flowers.