EFFECT OF CUT TYPE AND SOME PRESERVATIVE SOLUTIONS ON THE VASE LIFE OF CUT FLOWERS OF SOME CHRYSANTHEMUM (Chrysanthemum morifolium) CULTIVARS.

This investigation was performed under the green house and Lab. conditions of Exp. Res. And Training, King Faisal Univ. to study the effect of some cut types and preservative solutions on the vase life of four chrysanthemum cultivars (Anemon, Pompon, Single and Spider) . The evaluated four cut types were as follows: Flowers with 10 or 20 cm stem with 4 leaves or without leaves on stem. The preservative solutions used were as follows: - Control - CCC 20 , 40 and 60 ppm - Citric acid 30 , 60 and 90 ppm - Sucrose 2, 4 and 6 % concentration - Silver nitrate 25 , 50 and 75 ppm The main findings obtained from this investigation showed that the longest vase life of cut flowers was obtained by cutting flowers with 20 cm stem with four leaves. The evaluated preservative solutiions had marked effects on the vase life of cut flowers. Silver nitrate at 50 ppm came in the first rank in extending the vase life of flowers. Silver nitrate at 25 or 75 ppm and Sucrose at 4 % concentration ranked the second or the third in this concern. The interaction between cut type and preservative solutions significantly affected the vase life of flower. The longest vase life for the evaluated four chrysanthemum cultivars were observed by cutting flower with 20 cm stem and four leaves when preserved in silver nitrate at 50 ppm. Also, results revealed that the vase life of Anemon, Pompon, Single and Spider were 21.4, 19.4 , 21.4 and 24.2 days, respectively.