Study on Interaction Effects of Mechanical and Geranium Essential Oil Treatments on Vase Life of Cut Chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflorum L.)

The aim of this study is investigation on effect of stem end splitting and Geranium essential oil on vase life on quality of cut chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflorum L.). This experiment arranged as factorial based on RCD with 2 factors of stem end splitting at 2 levels (with splitting and without splitting) and Geranium essential oil at 6 levels (0, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 10 %), with 12 treatments, 3 replications, 36 plots and 144 cut flowers. In this experiment traits such as vase life, water absorption, fresh weight, dry matter percent and °brix were measured. ANOVA showed that different among treatments was significant for vase life, °brix and fresh weight in 1% probability and for dry matter percent and water absorption in 5% probability. Results showed that different treatments improved vase life compared to control and maximum vase life was achieved in 5 cm splitting 10% Geranium essential oil with 18.41 days compared to control (7.05 days).