The Comparison Effect of red Beetroot Extract (Beta vulgaris L.) and Folic Acid on the Vase Life of Two Rose Cut-Flower Cultivars

The effect of red beetroot extract and folic acid was evaluated on vase life of rose cut-flower cultivars of white (White Avalanche) and red (Samourai) during three experiments, in this study. In the first experiment, four concentrations of red beetroot extract (0, 50, 100 and 200 ml.L-1) and in the second experiment, three concentrations of red beet extract (0, 20 and 50 mlL-1) were used. In the third experiment, four concentrations of Folic acid (0, 25, 50 and 100 mgL-1) in combination with 2% sucrose were used. Cut-flowers were treated by pulsing method (24 hours) in these preservative solutions and then were maintained in distilled water util to end of vase life. The evaluated traits included vase life, relative fresh weight, relative solution adsorbed, anthocyanin content, chlorophyll content, electrolyte leakage and relative leaf water content. Results showed that the vase life and relative fresh weight of White Avalanche cultivar were significantly higher than red Samourai cultivar. By increasing the amount of red beetroot extract, the amount of anthocyanin in the petals of the treated flowers increasedWhereas, at lower concentrations of red beetroot extracts, vase life and amount of relative solution absorbed increased. In the folic acid experiment, the relative fresh weight and the amount of solution absorbed in the control which contained distilled water along with 2% sucrose, then the 25 mgL-1 Folic acid were the best treatments. It is suggested to use lower concentrations of these compounds and also with antimicrobial compounds.