Aluminum Sulfate as Pulsing Preservative for Export-oriented Rose Flowers under Bahir Dar Conditions, Northwestern Ethiopia

Muluken Yayeh; Melkamu Alemayehu Workie; Getachew Alemayehu

doi:10.20372/jaes.v2i1.183

Muluken Yayeh Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debere Tabor, Ethiopia
Melkamu Alemayehu Workie College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
Getachew Alemayehu College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.20372/jaes.v2i1.183

Keywords: cut rose, fresh weight, transpiration rate, water balance, water uptake

Abstract

Rose is one of the most important cut flowers in Ethiopia produced mostly for export markets. Maintaining the postharvest life is the most challenging issue for most of the floricultural enterprises in the country. Two sets of experiments were therefore conducted in Tana Flora PLC farm, one of the biggest cut rose producers in Bahir Dar, Northwestern Ethiopia with the objectives of identifying the appropriate concentration of aluminum sulfate as pulsing preservative to maintain the vase life of export oriented rose flowers. In the first set, aluminum sulfate alone and in combination with calcium hypochlorite at different concentrations including the experience of Tana Flora PLC, sucrose and distilled water as control were tested for their influence on physiological status of `Maracuja` rose flowers. In the second set, the best performed pulsing preservative (aluminum sulfate alone) was tested at four concentrations (0ppm, 125ppm, 250ppm and 375ppm) to identify the optimum concentration. After pulsing for about 30 hours, six cut flowers were put in 250 ml glass flask containing distilled water. The flasks with flowers were arranged in Complete Randomized Design with three replications and kept in vase life testing room of Tana Flora PLC. According to the results obtained, aluminum sulfate at the concentration of 250ppm was the best in prolonging the vase life, in producing bigger flower head and maintaining the freshness of flowers. The reduction in percent fresh weight during the vase life of flowers was minimal in 250ppm aluminum sulfate pulsed flowers. The prolonged vase life of aluminum pulsed flowers is due to better water uptake and thus stabilized water balance in the flowers as observed in this study. Thus, it is advised to incorporate aluminum sulfate in flower holding solution at the concentration of 250ppm to maintain the freshness and vase life of export oriented rose flowers and those for local market in the study area.

References

Butt, S.J. (2003). A review on prolonging the vase life of roses. Pakistan Rose Annual, Published by Pakistan National Rose Society.

Chapman, K.D. and Austin-Brown, S. (2007). Methods for extending the freshness of cut flowers, ornamental trees, and plant cuttings. http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7199082.html. (accessed September, 2014).

Da Silva, J.A.T. (2003). The cut flower: Postharvest considerations. J. Bot. Sci.3: 406-442.

De Stigter, H.C.M. (1981). Effects of glucose with 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate or aluminum sulfate on the water balance of cut `Sonia' roses. Z. Pflanzenphys. 101: 95-105.

EHPEA (2008). Flowers and ornamentals. http://www.ethiomarket.com/eic. (accessed September, 2014).

EHPEA and EHDA (2011). Exporting fruit and vegetables from Ethiopia. Ethiopian Horticulture Producers and Exporter Association, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Elgimabi, M.E. (2011). Vase life extension of rose cut flower (Rosa hybrida) as influenced by silver nitrate and sucrose pulsing. Am. J. Agri. Biol. Sci.6(1): 128-133.

Gerailoo, S. and Ghasemnezhad, M. (2011). Effect of salicylic acid on antioxidant enzyme activity and petal senescence in â€˜Yellow Islandâ€™ cut rose flowers. J. Fruit Ornam. Plant Res. 19(1): 183-193.

Halevy, A.H. and Mayak, S. (1981). Senescence and postharvest physiology of cut flowers- part 2. Hortic. Rev.3: 59-143

Hassanpour, A.M., Hatamzadeh, A. and Nakhai, F. (2004). Study on the effect of temperature and various chemical treatments to increase vase life of cut rose flower â€œBaccaraâ€. Agric. Sci. Res. J. Guilan Agric. Faculty 1(4): 121-129.

Henriette, M.C. and Clerkx, A.C.M. (2001). Anatomy of cut rose xylem observed by scanning electron microscope. Acta Hortic. 547: 329-339.

Hussen, S. and Yassin, H. (2013). Review on the impact of different vase solutions on the postharvest life of rose flower. Int. J. Agri. Res. Rev. 1(2): 013-017.

Ichimura, K., Kawabata, Y., Kishimoto, M., Goto, R. and Yamada, K. (2003). Shortage of soluble carbohydrates is largely responsible for short vase life of cut â€˜Soniaâ€™ rose flowers. J. Jap. Soc. Hortic. Sci.72: 292-298.

Ichimura, K., Taguchi, M. and Norikoshi, R. (2006). Extention of the vase life in cut roses by treatment with glucose, isothiazolinonic germicide, citric acid and aluminum sulphate solution. Jap. Agri. Res. Quart. 40(3): 263- 269.

Lama, B., Ghosal, M., Gupta, S.K. and Mandal, P. (2013). Assessment of different preservative solutions on vase life of cut roses. J. Ornam. Plants (J. Ornam. Hortic. Plants) 3(3): 171-181.

Liao, L.J., Lin, Y.H., Huang, K.L., Chen, W.S. and Cheng, Y.M. (2000). Postharvest life of cut rose flowers as affected by silver thiosulfate and sucrose. Bot. Bull. Acad. Sinica 41: 299 - 303.

Loubaud, M. and Van Doorn, G. (2004). Wound-induced and bacteria-induced xylem blockage in roses, Astible and Viburmum. Postharvest Biol. Technol. 32(3): 281-288.

Lutz, J.M. and Hardenburg, R.E. (1968). The commercial storage of fruits, vegetables and florist and nursery stock. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Sevice , USA.

Minstry of Trade and Industry (MoTI) (2014). Export performance evaluative report of 2006/07 Ethiopian fiscal year. Ministry of Trade and Industry, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Nowak, J. and Rudnicki, R. (1990). Postharvest Handling and Storage of Cut Flowers, Florist Greens, and Potted Plants. Timber Press, Inc., Portland.

ProFlower (2012). How to choose the right rose for every occasion. http://www.proflowers.com/blog/. (accessed February 28, 2016).

Pun, U.K. and Ichimura, K. (2003). Role of sugars in senescence and biosynthesis of ethylene in cut flowers. Jap. Agri. Res. 37: 219-224.

SÃ¤rkkÃ¤, L. (2005). Yield,quality and vase life of cut roses in year round greenhouse production. PhD Dissertation, University of Helsinki, Finland.

Seyf, M., Khalighi, A., Mostofi, Y. and Naderi, R. (2012). Study on the effect of aluminum sulfate treatment on postharvest life of the cut rose â€˜Boeingâ€™ (Rosa hybrid cv. Boeing). J. Hortic. Forest. Biotech. 16(3): 128-132.

Subhashini, R.M.B., Amarathunga1, N.L.K., Krishnarajah, S.A. and Eeswara, J.P. (2011). Effect of Benzylaminopurine, Gibberellic Acid, Silver Nitrate and Silver Thiosulphate, on postharvest longevity of cut leaves of Dracaena. Ceylon J. Sci.(Bio. Sci.) 40(2): 157-162.

Synge, P.M. (1971). The dictionary of rose in color. 1st Edn., Madison Square Press, New York, USA.

Tsegaw, T., Tilahun, S. and Humphries, G. (2011). Influence of pulsing biocides and preservative solution treatment on the vase life of cut rose (Rosa hybrid L.) varieties. J. Appl. Sci. Techn. 2(2): 1-18.

Van der Maden, E., Hoogerwerf, F., Marrewijk, V., Kerklaan, E., Posthumus, J., van Boven, A., Elings, A., Victoria, N.G., Rikken, M. and Humphries, G., Eds. (2011). Handbook for greenhouse rose production Ethiopia. DLV Plant, Wageningen, The Netherlands

Van Doorn, W.G., De-Witte, Y. (1997). Sources of the bacteria involved in vascular occlusion of cut rose flowers. J. Am. Soc. Hortic. Sci 122: 263-266.

Van Doorn, W.G., De-Witte, Y. and Perik, R.R.J., (1990). Effect of antimicrobial compounds on the number of bacteria in stems of cut rose flowers. J. Appl. Bacteriol. 68: 117-122.

Zlesak, D.C. (2006). Issues, challenges and opportunities for the 21th Century. Rosa x hybrida. In: Flower breeding and genetics, pp. 695-738 (Anderson, N. O. eds.). Springer, Netherlands.