POST-HARVEST LIFE OF DIFFERENT CUT FOLIAGES UNDER DIFFERENT STORAGE CONDITIONS AS INFLUENCED BY STORAGE CONDITIONS AND VASE SOLUTIONS

摘要

Cut foliage is an important component of present-day florist business. This business is on an increase throughout the world with little fluctuations. Quality production of cut foliage varieties with good vase life is the demand of all stake holders. Current study was conducted at Research area of Floriculture and Landscaping Research Station, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad, Pakistan during 2018. In the present study leaves of three cut foliage varieties viz. Murraya exotica, Ficus benjamina (black) and Ruscus aculeatus were stored for 0, 3 and 5 days at 4°C ± 1°C. After storage their vase life was evaluated at room temperature in different solutions, i.e., water (control), sucrose solutions (0.5% and 1% concentration) and salicylic acid solutions (100, 200 and 300 ppm concentration). Results showed that murraya, ficus and ruscus cut foliage varieties had maximum vase life of 10.29, 9.54 and 18.79 days respectively in 0.5% sucrose solution. Lower concentration of 100 ppm of salicylic acid proved better than higher concentrations in improving the vase life of cut foliage. Vase life of cut foliage species was better after three days storage than storage for five days. The cut foliage of these three varieties can be successfully stored for three days at 4°C ± 1°C with better results of vase life.