Standardisation of post harvest handling techniques in rose (Rosa hybrid L.)

Abstract

Rose is one of the important commercial cut flowers. In recent years there is an increase in production of rose cut flowers under polyhouse. This has necessitated to standardize post harvest handling techniques for polyhouse grown roses under our situation. Hence studies were carried out to determine the optimum harvest stage, pulsing treatment and post-harvest practices to enhance the vase life. Five rose varieties Tinike, Dream, Sasha, Prophyta and Lambada were evaluated for post-harvest qualities. Sasha with vase life of 10.58 days was found superior over other varieties. Optimum harvest stage was when one petal unfolded for varieties Sasha and Sunny Prophyta with vase life 10.74 days and 10.49 days. Pulsing trial was carried out in variety Sasha. Pulsing treatment with 3% sucrose plus 200 ppm 8-Hydroxy quinolone citrate was given for different duration. Results revealed that four hours pulsing was beneficial in improving the post harvest qualities such as vase life (11.63 days) in variety Sasha cut flower. Effect of different post harvest practices on vase life of rose variety Sasha was determined. It revealed that stem re-cutting on alternate days in vase gave maximum vase life of 11.13 days.