Influence of pulse chemical treatments on water relation in cut gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii cv. Pags) flowers

The effect of 24 h pulse chemical treatments on the vase life and quality Of Cut gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii cv. Pags) flowers was studied in a completed randomized experiment. Cut flowers were kept in vases containing solutions of 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate (8-HQS), aluminium sulfate, citric acid, calcium chloride, silver nitrate and distilled water (control). Thirty mg l(-1) of sucrose was used for all treatments. Vase life was significantly (P<0.05) extended from 12.0 days (control) to 24.5 days by using combination of aluminium sulfate at 300 ppm and sucrose. Fresh weight (FW) and relative water content (RWC) data indicated that chemical treatments acted primarily by improving water uptake and consequently extending vase life, which suggests that the vase life, scape bending and wilting are all related to the water status of flower. The curvature of the stem in the end of vase life was associated with the folding and wilting of the stem in the vase.