POSTHARVEST LONGEVITY AND PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES IN CUT ASPARAGUS PLUMOSUS FOLIAGE AS INFLUENCED BY PREHARVEST AND POSTHARVEST TREATMENT OF SALICYLIC ACID AND GIBBERELLIC ACID

Asparagus plumosus have plenty of applications in floral decoration, but its postharvest longevity is short. So, the present research aimed to improve vase life and some physiological parameters of this plant species in a factorial experiment based on a randomized complete block design with 16 treatments and three replications. The experimental treatments included two plant growth regulators of gibberellic acid (GA(3)) and salicylic acid (SA) at four rates (0, 100, 200, and 400 mu mol) and two application methods of foliar application at the preharvest phase and application in the preservative solution at the postharvest phase. In both application methods, SA and GA(3) improved all traits versus the control irrespective of the application method. However, the combined application of 100 and 200 mu mol of GA(3) and SA exhibited the best results and the longest vase life. The weakest results among different rates were obtained from increasing the application rate of SA and GA(3) to 400 mu mol. In general, the best treatments for improving the vase life and related traits were SA100 + GA200 in the foliar application and SA200 + GA100 in the vase solution application. So, they are recommended for preserving the postharvest quality of this plant species.