Effect Of Benzyladenine On The Vase Life And Keeping Quality Of Alstroemeria Cutflowers
Abstract
Two experiments were conducted to investigate the response of Benzyl adenine (BA) the vase life and the physiological change in the leaves of Alstroemeria cut flowers. The treatments were combined in a factorial manner and laid down in a completely randomized design with 3 replicates.Treatment of Alstroemeria cut flowers with25 or 50
mg/litre
BA
consistently
increased
the
number
of
days
to
full
opening
of
primary
florets
and
delayed
the
onset
of
flower
senescence
as
measured
by
days
to
50%
petal
fall
and
50%
leaf
yellowing.
BA
at
25,
50
or
75
mgilitre
increased
both
the
leaf
nitrogen
and
chlorophyll
content
of
the
Alstroemeria
cut
flowers
compared
to
the
control.
However,
75
and
100
mg/litre
BA
gave
the
highest
values
of
leaf
dry
weight.
BA
decreased
the
leaf
water
content
of
Alstroemeria
cut
flowers.
These
results
suggests
that
25
mgilitre
BA
has
the
potential
to
be
used
as
a
commercial
cut
flower
preservative
to
prevent
leaf
yellowing
and
prolonging
the
vase
life
of
Alstroemeria
cut
flowers
Citation
Mutui. T .M., V.E. Emongor and M.J. Hutchinson. 2003. Effect of Benzyl adenine on the Vase Life and Keeping Quality of Alstroemeria Cut Flowers. J. Agric. Sci. Technol. 5: 91-105Publisher
University of Nairobi Plant Science and Crop Protection