EFFECT OF PULSING WITH GROWTH REGULATORS ON SENESCENCE OF THE DETACHED COLD-STORED LEAVES OF Zantedeschia aethiopica Spr. AND Hosta ‘Undulata Erromena’

Abstract

Cut leaves of Zantedeschia aethiopica Spr. and Hosta ‘Undulata Erromena’ are widely used as the florists’ green. Effect of pulsing leaves with growth regulators and a storage method (dry or wet, in light or darkness, at 5°C) on postharvest longevity and chlorophyll content was investigated. Leaf vase life after 3 days storage was evaluated at 20°C and 12 h light/12 h night. Results confirmed that a dry and dark storage of Zantedeschia leaves negatively affected their decorative values while for Hosta foliage a dry storage was improper both in darkness and in light. Negative effects of storage conditions could – at least partly – be alleviated by a 24 h puls conditioning with gibberellic acid or benzyladenine for Zantedeschia and Hosta, respectively. In Zantedeschia the pulsed leaves cold stored in darkness had their vase life seven-fold that of non pulsed leaves. In Hosta pulsing leaves with BA prior to storage increased their vase life six times relative to untreated leaves, however, the cytokinin did not completely overcome a negative effect of dry storage. Positive action of both growth regulators was reflected in the leaf higher chlorophyll contents at all sampling dates.

Keywords

• Zantedeschia aethiopica
• Hosta ‘Undulata Erromena’
• cold storage
• growth regulators
• senescence
• chlorophyll content