Pretreatment with Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extract improves the postharvest quality of cut roses (Rosa hybrida L.)

Microbial growth in vase solutions and ethylene damage are often associated with premature senescence in cut flowers. We examined the efficacy of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extract (SC) to improve postharvest longevity and quality of two cut roses (Rosa hybrida L.) 'Jinny' and 'Wild Look' to develop an inexpensive and innocuous preservative solution for the cut flower industry. Pretreatments with 100, 200, 300, and 500 mu L L-1 SC effectively extended the vase life of the cut rose cultivars. Among the tested pretreatments, 300 mu L L-1 of SC was the most effective concentration and significantly prolonged the postharvest longevity of cut flowers from 11.8 days (control) to 17.4 days in 'Jinny' and from 13.6 (control) to 20.9 days in 'Wild Look'. The beneficial effects of 300 mu L L-1 SC pretreatment inhibited bacterial accumulation at the base of the cut stems, enhanced water uptake, and maintained initial fresh weight, positive water balance, and chlorophyll fluorescence (F-v/F-m) in the leaves of cut roses. In addition, 300 mu L L-1 SC pretreatment suppressed the transcript levels of ethylene biosynthesis genes (RhACO1, RhACS1, RhACS3, and RhACS4) in rose petals and delayed flower senescence. The efficacy of 300 mu L L-1 SC pretreatment in extending the vase life of cut roses was equal to 0.1 mM silver thiosulfate (STS), and greater than hydrosol (H), H + SC, and H + sucrose (H + Suc). Therefore, the results from our study highlight the potential of SC as an alternative preservative in the cut rose industry.