Lanthanum delays senescence and improves postharvest quality in cut tulip (Tulipa gesneriana L.) flowers

We tested two sources of lanthanum (La), LaCl3 and La(NO3)3 × 6H2O at a concentration of 40 µM each, in the treatment solution of cut flowers of 15 tulip (Tulipa gesneriana L.) cultivars. Ascorbic acid (AsA; 0.2 g/L) was used as a reference solution, while distilled water was evaluated as an absolute control. With both La sources, bud length and diameter, and stem length were increased; as a result, stem curvature was also significantly increased with La treatments. The cultivars Laura Fygi and Rosario registered the highest relative stem elongation. Lalibela and Acropolis displayed the greatest stem curvature on the last day in vase. At 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 days after cutting, the highest solution uptake was recorded in flower stems treated with LaCl3, surpassing the control by 5, 11, 15, 18 and 24%, respectively. The relative stem elongations observed were 21.3, 27.4, 35.2 and 35.5% in the control, AsA, LaCl3 and La(NO3)3, respectively. The mean solution uptake per gram of stem fresh biomass weight was 1.44, 1.44, 1.71 and 1.54 mL in the control, AsA, LaCl3 and La(NO3)3, respectively. LaCl3 significantly increased the bud length and solution uptake of flower stems, while La(NO3)3 × 6H2O increased stem fresh weight.