Effect of some chemical treatments on postharvest quality and vase life of gerbera cut flowers (Gerbera jamesonii cv. Good Timing)

The effect of gibberelic acid (GA3) and ethanol on the postharvest quality and vase life of gerbera cut flowers was investigated. Freshly cut flower stems of gerbera cultivar ‘Good timing’, were put in vases containing zero, 50, 100, 150, 200 or 300 mgL-1 GA3 for 48 hr and then held in vases containing 2.5 percent ethanol and three percent sucrose in two methods. In the first method, the vase solutions were not replaced but in the second method, the vase solutions replaced and refreshed when solution uptake was measured. The vase was placed in chambers at 25°C and relative humidity about 70 percent with 14 hr photoperiod that was maintained using fluorescent lamps (light intensity of 15 µmolm-2s-1). Data were recorded for vase life, fresh weight, solution uptake, membrane stability, total soluble solid over time and analyzed statistically. Results revealed that GA3 with 50 mgL-1 was the most effective treatments for vase life, fresh weight, solution uptake, membrane stability and total soluble solid of gerbera cut flowers. Also results show that application of ethanol in second method (refreshing) was better than application in the first method as constant vase solution.