Effect of GA3 and BA on postharvest quality and vase life of gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii. cv. Good Timing) cut flowers

The effect of gibberellic acid (GA(3)) and benzyladenine (BA) on the postharvest quality and vase life of gerbera cut-flowers was investigated. Freshly cut flower stems of gerbera cultivar 'Good Timing', with four outer disc florets open, were put in vases containing 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, or 300 mg center dot L-1 GA(3) and 0, 10, 25, 50, 100, or 150 mg center dot L-1 of BA for 48 hr and then held in vases containing 2.5% ethanol and 3% sucrose. Vases were placed in chambers at 25A degrees C with a relative humidity about 70% and were arranged in a Completely Randomized Design with three replicates. Data were recorded for vase life, fresh weight, solution uptake, membrane stability, total soluble solid over time and analyzed statistically. GA(3) 50 mg center dot L-1 and BA 50 mg center dot L-1 were the most effective treatments on vase life, fresh weight, solution uptake, membrane stability and total soluble solids of gerbera cut flowers. Cytokinins and gibberelins have potential to enhance post harvest quality of cut gerbera flowers.