| heal.abstract |
The use of sucrose, citric acid, methanol, or dichloro-isocyanuric acid sodium salt dihydrate (DICA) at various concentrations had little or no effect in extending the vase-life of oleander inflorescences compared to the untreated controls (i.e., distilled water). However, the vase-lives of inflorescences placed in 50 ug ml-1 citric acid + 2% (w/v) sucrose, or in 200 μl ml-1 methanol + 2% (w/v) sucrose, or in 200 μg ml-1 DICA + 2% (w/v) sucrose, after 72-h storage at 2°C, were increased by 2.2 d (P < 0.05), 2.2 d (P < 0.05), or 1.4 d (P < 0.05), respectively, compared to the controls. Furthermore, the percentage values of the flower opening scores (FOS) of inflorescences placed in 50 μg ml-1 citric acid + 2% (w/v) sucrose, or in 200 μg ml-1 DICA + 2% (w/v) sucrose at 2°C were significantly (P < 0.05) increased (by 63% and 61%, respectively) compared to the controls. Negative effects of storage of inflorescences placed in water were recorded after a 72-h storage at 2°C, and justified by a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the relative chlorophyll fluorescence ratio (Fv/Fm) after 7 d of incubation. This low temperature injury (LTI) was prevented when inflorescences were placed in 50 μg ml-1 citric acid + 2% (w/v) sucrose, or in 200 μl ml-1 methanol + 2% (w/v) sucrose, or in 200 μg ml -1 DICA + 2% sucrose. After 72-h storage at 5°C, significant (P < 0.05) increases were also recorded in the vase-lives and FOS values of inflorescences placed in 50 μg ml-1 citric acid + 2% (w/v) sucrose, or in 200 μl ml-1 methanol + 2% (w/v) sucrose, or in 200 μg ml-1 DICA + 2% (w/v) sucrose compared to the controls. |
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