EFFECT OF POSTHARVEST TREATMENTS ON THE VASE LIFE AND QUALITY OF CUT CHRYSANTHEMUM

An investigation was carried out to study the effect of preservative solutions on vase life, fresh weight, flower diameter and chlorophyll content of spray chrysanthemum (Dendranthema morifolium) cvs Clarence and Streamer. Distilled water (control), sucrose 2%+ cobalt chloride 50 ppm or + 8-HQS 500 ppm or + sodium benzoate 50 ppm or + ascorbic acid 50 ppm were used in the experiment.
Sucrose 2% + 8-HQS 500 ppm and sucrose 2% + cobalt chloride 50 ppm resulted the longest vase life in the two cultivars. The highest fresh weight were obtained with sucrose 2% + cobalt chloride and sucrose 2% + 8-HQS 500 ppm respectively. The greatest flower diameter of cv. Clarence were obtained with sucrose 2% + cobalt chloride treatments while the greatest flower diameter of cv. Streamer were obtained with sucrose 2% + cobalt chloride and sucrose 2%+ 8-HQS 500 ppm respectively. Control treatment gave the lowest content of chlorophyll in cv. Clarence, but cv. Streamer was not affected.