Effect of Floral Preservatives and Growth Regulators on Post Harvest Life of Gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus L.) cv. American Beauty

A Postharvest experiment was conducted to maximize the vase life of gladiolus using different preservative solution in department of Horticulture, Kalasalingam School of Agriculture and Horticulture. In this experiment the treatment consisted of two preservative chemicals and two growth regulators viz., 8-Hydroxy quinoline sulphate @ 300 ppm Silver nitrate @ 50 ppm, Benzyl adenine @ 20,40,60 ppm and Gibberlic acid @ 10,25,40 ppm along with sucrose @ 4 per cent with distilled water as control. The results of this experiment revealed that the maximum water uptake, transpirational loss of water, water balance, fresh weight change, percentage of opened florets, floret diameter, longevity of floret, vase life was recorded in T2 (8-HQS @ 300 ppm + sucrose 4% + BA @ 40 ppm), when compared to control. Some parameters like optical density of vase solution, days taken for the basal floret to open in vase and the percentage of wilted florets were observed least in T2 (8-HQS @ 300 ppm + sucrose 4% + BA @ 40 ppm). T5 (8-HQS @ 300 ppm + Sucrose 4% + BA @ 40 ppm) solution was found best to extend the vase life of gladiolus.