Effect of Pomegranate Peel Extract, Rosmarinus and Artemisia Essential Oils on Vase Life of Cut Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium R.)

Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium R.) is one of the most popular cut flowers in the world. Stem end blockage and water stress are two problems in shortening the vase life of cut Chrysanthemum. Essential oils are noble alternative substitutes for silver and chemical compounds because of their antimicrobial activities and environmentally friendly nature of the extracts. A pomegranate peel extract (PGE) was evaluated as a natural antifungal preparation for the control of postharvest rots.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of pomegranatepeelextract of three cultivars (‘Shahvar dane sefid’, ‘Rabab dane ghermez’ and ‘Malas Poost Siah Yazdi’) in four concentration of 0, 15, 25 and 50 mg/l and Rosmarinous and Artemisia essential oils in four concentrations of 0, 25, 50 and 75 mg/l on vase life of cut chrysanthemum in a completely randomize design (CRD). Evaluated characteristics were consisted of vase life, stem end bacteria, petals water content, fresh weight loss, electrolyte leakage, protein content and peroxidase enzyme activity.

According to the results, flowers treated by 15 mg/l pomogrante peel extract of ‘Shahvar dane sefid’ showed the highest effect on vase life of chrysanthemum with 34.10% higher than control. The lowest population of bacterial in stem end of flowers was obtqined by 25 mg/l Rosmarinus essential oil with 70.14% lower than control. By increasing the extract and essential oils concentrations, bacterial population in stem end of cut flower significantly increased, while peroxidase activity significantly decreased. The lowest fresh weight loss was observed in stems treated with 75 mg/l pomegranate peel extract of ‘Shahvar dane sefid’, 15 mg/l Pomogrante Peel Extract of ‘Rabab Daneh Ghermez’, 25 mg/l Artemissia essential oil and 25 and 50 mg/l Rosmarinous essential oil. The highest petals water content (75.66%) was obtained in 75 mg/l Rosmarinus essential oil. The lowest petals water content (44.66%) was obtained in 75 mg/l Artemisia essential oil. The lowest electrolyte leakage was observed in cut stem floweres that were treated by 15 and 25 mg/l pomegranate peel extract cv.’Malas Poost Siah Yazdi’.

Generally, compared to control, all treatments were able to extend vase life and decrease fresh weight and microbial stem end of cut flowers. Also, among three pomegranate peel extracts, extracts of cv. ‘Shahvar dane sefid’ showed the highest effect on extending vase life, decreasing the fresh weight, electrolyte leakage and stem end bacteria, and thus, recommended for extending the vase life of cut flowers.