Post harvest life of cut gerbera flowers as affected by nano-silver and acetylsalicylic acid

Abstract

The objective of the study was to determine the effect of Nano-Silver (NS) and acetylsalicylic acid on extending gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii) vase-life. For this was used of four levels of acetylsalicylic acid (1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 mM) and five levels of NS (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 mg L -1). The results of this experiment indicated NS and acetylsalicylic acid treatments inhibited the growth of microorganisms in vase solution and considerably extended the vase-life of cut flowers of gerbera also acetylsalicylic acid (2.5 mM) and NS (5 mg L _1) were the best treatments so that increased vase life of cut flowers in laboratory conditions and decreasing MDA (Malondialehyde) content and ACC-oxidase (1-aminocyclopropane carboxylic acid oxidase) activity. Results of this study suggest that application of NS and acetylsalicylic acid have potential for introducing as novel alternatives instead of common chemicals used in preservative solutions in gerbera flowers. © 2012 Academic Journals Inc.