Effect of harvesting stages and chemical preservatives on post harvest life of Cymbidium hybrid ‘Red Princess

Effect of harvesting stages and chemical preservatives on post harvest life of Cymbidium hybrid ‘Red Princess

Cymbidium flowers are sensitive to ethylene compared to other flowers. The senescence hormone called ethylene produced during senescence reduces the post harvest life which results in wilting and shedding of individual flowers. The experiment was undertaken to enhance the post harvest life of Cymbidium hybrid ‘Red Princess’. The treatment comprised of harvesting stages viz., 100% opened stage (S1), 75 % opened stage (S2), 50 % opened stage (S3) and 25% opened stage (S4), and chemical preservatives 8-HQS 150 ppm (T1), Citric acid 0.5% (T2), Sucrose 10% (T3), STS 0.1 mM (T4), STS 0.1 mM + sucrose 10% (T5), AgNO3 50 ppm (T6), 8-HQS 200 ppm + Sucrose 5% (T7) and distilled water as control (T0). It was noticed that highest fresh weight recorded on third day and in 25% and 50% opened stages as compared to 75% and 100% opened stages. Vase life was recorded highest in 75% opened stage with the duration of 27.86 days and lowest in 100% opened stage (24.36 days). The quality and concentration of different holding solution selectively influenced the post harvest parameters of cut spikes depending on the harvesting stage. Chemical preservative 8-HQS at 150 ppm recorded the highest fresh weight increase on third day (5.60 g), water uptake (32.01g), first and last flower size (35.74 & 34.26 cm) and vase life (32.32 days).