EFFECT OF PRE AND POST-HARVEST TREATMENTS ON THE POSTHARVEST KEEPING QUALITY OF SUNFLOWER CV. SUN RICH ORANGE CUT FLOWERS

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

Ornamental Plants and Landscape Gardening Research Dept., Hort. Res. Inst., Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt

Abstract

Two experiments were consummated in a saran’s greenhouse at the Ornamental Nursery and the Ornamental Laboratory of Fac. Agric., Zagazig Univ., Egypt to study the effect of two factors (NPK fertilization at different rates of 0, 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5 g/l (pre-harvest) and some pulsing solutions i.e. distilled water (D.W.) for 16 h, sucrose (S) at 20% for 16 h, S (20%) for 16 h + silver thiosulfate (STS) at 1:4 mM for 18 min and S (20%) + 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate (8-HQS) at 200 ppm for 16 h) to enhance sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) cv. Sun Rich Orange growth and keeping quality of cut flowers after harvesting during 2019 and 2020 summer seasons. Also, the interactions between these two factors were assessed. Using any NPK fertilizer rate significantly enhanced plant height, total fresh and dry weights of plant and flower diameter as well as total chlorophyll content in the leaves, total carbohydrates percentage in leaves and anthocyanin content in flower petals of sunflower compared to control. Moreover, the rate of 3 g/l of NPK gave the highest values of water uptake and water balance in comparison with the other rates. The longevity of the cut flower was gradually increased with increasing NPK fertilizer rate up to 3 g/l then it decreased. Using S + STS or S + 8-HQS as a pulsing solution recorded the highest values in water uptake and water balance at 2, 4 and 6 days of shelf life periods of cut flower as well as increased longevity and fresh weight change (%) of cut sunflower compared to the other ones under study. In general, the interaction between S + STS or S + 8-HQS and 3 g/l of NPK gave the highest values of water balance and longevity compared to the other interaction treatments. It could be concluded that S + STS as well as S + 8-HQS, showed a uniform influence in keeping quality of sunflower cut flowers under 3 g/l of NPK fertilizer with increasing longevity and total sugars content in the flowers

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