Effects of calcium oxide nanoparticles on vase life of gerbera cut flowers

Gerbera flowers are positioned amongst the most marketed cut flowers worldwide due to their attractive appearance. Their shelf-life is typically short (7-12 days) owing to stem bending that determines its commercial value. Postharvest treatments based on vase solutions with calcium compounds (e.g., CaO, Ca (OH)(2), CaCO3, CaCl2) are applied to avoid stem bending. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of vase solutions based on calcium oxide nanoparticles (CaO-NP) on the postharvest quality of gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii L. cv. 'Forza'). The treatments consisted in distilled water (negative control), 2000 mg.L-1 calcium chloride (positive control, CaCl2, 0.2 %), 0.1 % glycerol, and 50, 100 and 150 mg.L-1 of CaO-NP; glycerol (0.1 %) was applied to maintain the CaO-NP dispersed. Results indicated positive effects of CaO-NP on stem firmness, decreasing stem bending, as well as reducing the weight loss and preserving the diameter of the gerbera flowers. Moreover, gerberas treated with CaO-NP preserved their visual quality, and chlorophylls content. The action of CaO-NP did not modify phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity. Thus, the application of CaO-NP can be considered as an efficient alternative vase solution to preserve gerbera flowers during postharvest.