Advances in Crop Science and Technology
Open Access

Abstract

Heliconia the most flourishing cut flower in the tropics owing to its charismatic form and alluringly blended hues of its bracts. To label post-harvest complications and to protract vase life for a substantial span present experiment was designed employing antithetical vase solutions of various concentrations and fresh, mature, cut spikes of nine different Heliconia species and varieties. T5 and T6 treatment combinations contain AgNO3 @1500ppm and Cacl2 @ 750mg/l along with 8- HQC @500mg/l and Sucrose 2% outstandingly elevated solution uptake and flower opening inside bracts principally in all species and varieties respectively. Untreated spikes of Heliconia. psittacorum var. ‘Lady di’, Heliconia wagneriana, Heliconia stricta, Heliconia stricta var. ‘Dwarf Jamaican Red’ and Heliconia metallica exhibited noteworthy fresh weight retention on 8th days exceptionally while in contrast T4, T5, T7 and T3 evinced themselves unrivalled for rest of the genotypes on same duration. To preserve bract and flower’s carotene, anthocyanin and chlorophyll pigments all treatment’s impact were truly species specific apparently. T7 and T9 hold GA3 @ 80ppm and Citric acid @ 200mg/l along with germicide and sucrose respectively besides T5 and T6 also yield utmost vase life being impeded senescence in all inflorescences. These identical treatments amplified the levels of catalase, peroxidase enzymatic activities and collaterally declined the lipid peroxidation on 7th days in the bract. Therefore, present study concludes that AgNO3, Cacl2, GA3 and Citric acid at mentioned concentration renders magnificent beneficial effects on vase life attributes being subsisted with oxidative stress of Heliconia inflorescences.

Biography

Moumita Malakar, INSPIRE Fellow (SRF) of University of Calcutta, India is presently pursuing ‘Doctoral Program’ on Horticulture, specializing in ‘Floriculture & Landscaping’. The investigation on ‘impact of various vase-solutions on post-harvest life of Heliconia inflorescences’ is the worthy portion of my thesis work. She studied longevity of few ornamental foliages and flowers too but as Heliconia presently is highly priced in flower plaza especially in west-Bengal, there arises a need to extend its vase-life. The positive impact on entrepreneurs of this authentic endeavor is ascertained and will keenly influence the wealth since Helilconia is an emerging ‘specialty cut flower’ in West-Bengal, India.
Email:moumitamalakar7@gmail.com