Effect of banzyladenine gibberellic acid and cold, dry storage on the longevity of lilium (Lilium longiflorum cv. Fangio) cut flowers

In order to evaluat the effects of banzyladenine (BA)‚ gibberellic acid (GA3) and cold, dry storage on the longevity of lilium cut flowers (cv. Fangio) an experiment was conducted as a factorial based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Cut flowers were treated with 100 mg/lit BA plus 100 mg/lit GA3 and distilled water (control) as a short-term pretreatment for 24 hours, then they kept in dry storage in 4 for 10 days. In dry storage, flowers were sprayed with 2 ppm nano silver or distilled water. After storage, cut flowers were placed in preservative solution containing 2 ppm nano silver plus 3% sucrose and were evaluated until the end of vase life. Results showed that addition of BA+GA3 (100mg/lit of each) as a pulsed treatment in solution for 24 hours prior cold storage increased petals anthocyanin, vase life (P<1%) and membrance stability index (P<5%) and decreased percentage of blasted buds and chlorophyllase activities. Stems kept in dry storage at 4 and then treated with preservative solution containing 2 ppm nano silver plus 3% sucrose produced the longest vase life (P<5%) and decreased percentage of blasted buds (P<5%).