THE ROLE OF SOME ORGANIC MATTERS ON THE KEEPING QUALITY AND EXTENDING THE VASE LIFE OF CARNATION (DIANTHUS CARYOPHYLLUS CV. AMERICA) CUT FLOWERS

Dianthus caryophyllus is one of the most important produced cut flowers.The present experiment focuses on the effects of some organic matters on postharvest longevity and other related characters of Dianthus caryophylluscv. America cutflowers. The obtained results emphasized that all preservative solutions caused a marked increment in the studied characters as compared to distilled water (control). In this regard, the flowers hold in the preservative solution of 2% sucrose + either garlic extract (1 ml/l) or jasmine oil (0.030%) significantly prolonged vase life, increased flowers fresh weight (%) and water uptake (cm3), reduced the depletion of sugars content and increased anthocyanin content in the flowers. Moreover, the treatment of garlic extract (1 ml/l) + 2% sucrose increased markedly the flower diameter (cm), flower opening percentage and the other related characters. Fenugreek extract (1 g/l) + 2% sucrose affected positively on the studied characters of carnation cut flowers. Preservative solution containing 2% sucrose + either garlic extract (1 ml/l) or jasmine oil (0.030%) clearly reduced the number ofbacteria and fungi in the vase solutions as compared to control or other treatments used.