Extension of vase life of cut Narcissus tazetta var. chinensis flowers by combined treatment with STS and gibberellin A3

Abstract

The effects of pulse treatment with gibberellin A3 (GA3), silver thiosulfate complex (STS), and with or without sucrose on chlorophyll degradation and vase life of cut flowers of Narcissus tazetta var. chinensis were investigated. The 20-hr pulsing treatment with STS extended the vase life of cut flowers of N. tazetta var. chinensis. Pulse treatments with GAa delayed degradation of chlorophyll, but extended the vase life only slightly, whereas that with sucrose was ineffective, probably because the concentration of soluble carbohydrates in the stems and floral organs other than the petals was already high. Pulse treatments with STS at 0.1 mM in combination with GA3 at 0.5 or 1 mM were optimum for extending the vase life and preservation of leaf chlorophyll of N. tazetta var. chinensis.