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Abstract
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Background The primary challenge in the cut flower industry, specifically in the postharvest phase, is the short vase life of flowers. This issue, along with early leaf yellowing and perianth abscission, significantly diminishes the economic value of flowers due to their accelerated senescence. To tackle this, we conducted a factorial experiment on Alstroemeria cv. Rebecca, utilizing a completely randomized design with three replications. In this experiment the effects of varying concentrations of Salicylic acid (SA) (0, 1.5, and 3 mM) and sucrose (SU) (0% and 3%) were investigated on the postharvest quality of leaves and florets, with systematic evaluations every three days throughout their vase life. Results This experiment revealed that the specific treatment combination of 1.5 mM SA + 3% SU (T5) markedly improved various parameters, such as vase life, total chlorophyll content, membrane stability index, relative fresh weight, and water uptake of cut flowers. In our analysis, we observed that this preservative solution not only extended the vase life and enhanced water uptake but also effectively preserved total chlorophyll, mitigated the loss of fresh weight, and reduced membrane deterioration in petals. Additionally, our results showed an increase in the activities of catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) enzymes, as well as total protein content, alongside a decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels. Moreover, this study noted a decrease in microbial populations in solutions containing different concentrations of salicylic acid. Conclusions Our research demonstrated that alstroemeria flowers maintained in a solution with 1.5 mM SA + 3% SU exhibited a significantly prolonged vase life of up to 21 days, in contrast to the 15 days observed in control flowers kept in water. These results are highly beneficial for manufacturers in the cut flower industry, as they provide a viable method to substantially extend the vase life of cut flowers.
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