IMPROVEMENT ON EXTENDING THE POSTHARVEST LIFE AND QUALITY OF ANTHURIUM (Anthurium andreanum) CUT FLOWERS BY THE ADDITION OF SUCROSE.

The majority of the Anthurium species are perennial herbaceous plants, cultivated for ornamental purposes due to their attractive inflorescences. Anthurium is the largest genus of the Araceae family and very popular with flower arrangers. Wilting is the main cause in the termination of the vase life of cut flowers. Flowers are attracted by the customers due to their appearance, quality and freshness. Sugars play a vital role in keeping the quality of cut flowers, by adding sugars such as sucrose to the vase water is effective in improving the post-harvest life of cut flowers. Sugar provides a respiratory substrate and among all the different types of sugars, sucrose has been found to be the most commonly used sugar in prolonging vase life of cut flowers. The present experiment was conducted to find out the appropriate percent of sucrose for extending the vase life of anthurium cut flowers. Eight preservative solutions were used for extending the vase life and the experiment was conducted in Completely Randomized Design with three replications. Maximum days taken for spadix necrosis, Days taken for spathe blueing, Physiological loss in weight, Solution uptake and Vase life were recorded. The treatment T5 (sucrose 6%) recorded maximum results in extending the vase life and flower quality.