International Journal of Horticulture 2015, Vol.5, No.6, 1
-
5
2
Acid Method (Bhattacharjee and De, 2005). Each
100mg of the tissues were hydrolyzed by keeping in
boiling water bath for 3 hours with 5ml of 2.5N HCl
and cooled to room temperature. Then it was
neutralized with sodium carbonate until effervescence
ceases and made up to the volume to 100 ml and
centrifuged. 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1 ml of the working
standard were pipetted out into a series of test tubes.
The sample solution of 0.1 ml and 0.2ml was pipetted
out in two separate test tubes and made up the volume
in each tube to 1 ml with water. A blank with 1ml of
water was set. 1ml of phenol solution was added to
each tube. 5ml of 96% sulphuric acid was added to
each tube and shaken well. After shaking for 10
minutes, tubes were placed in water bath at 25 to 30
o
C
for 20 minutes. The colour was read at 490nm. The
amount of total carbohydrate present in the sample
was calculated using the standard graph.
1.3 Analysis of post-harvest life
In the second experiments, five flowers for all the
treatments were evaluated in tap water in CRD
design. Major post-harvest parameters including
reduction in weight (g), longevity of first floret
(days), solution uptake (ml) and vase life (days)
were recorded.
1.4 Bud opening treatments
In the last experiment, seven bud opening treatments
viz. sugar (4%), sugar (4%) + Al
2
(SO
4
)
3
(100 ppm),
sugar (4%) + 8-HQS (200 ppm), sugar (4%) +
Salicylic acid (200 ppm), sugar (4%) + Ca (NO
3
)
2
(1%), sugar (4%) + boric acid (200 ppm) + K
2
SO
4
(2mM) including control (distilled water) were laid
out in CRD design with five replications. 45cm long
flower spikes were harvested at bud stage and treated
with all the above chemicals for opening.
Observations recorded on days to first floret opening,
diameter of first floret, percent of half opened buds,
per cent of fully opened buds and vase life.
1.5 Estimation of total carbohydrates at senescence
stage
Changes in total carbohydrate content of flowers at
senescence were estimated using Phenol Sulphuric
Acid Method (Bhattacharjee and De, 2005).
2 Results and Discussion
Growth of pseudobulb (6cm) was promoted with the
applications of 0.3% NPK (19:19:19), Glucose (0.1%),
Mustard cake (1kg/50 litres), BA (200 ppm) and GA
3
(50 ppm) + BA (200 ppm) (Table 1). Maximum leaf
length (90cm) was recorded with the application of
GA
3
(50 ppm) + BA (200 ppm).
Table 1 Growth, flowering and longevity of Cymbidium hyb. ‘PCMV’ as affected by pre-harvest treatments
Treatment
Pseudobulb
size (cm)
Max. leaf
length (cm)
Spike length
(cm)
Rachis
length (cm)
No. of spikes
/plant
No. of florets/
spike
Floret diam.
(cm)
Flower
longevity
Control
3
75
35
15
1
9
8.5
70
0.3% NPK
(19:19:19)
6
85
36.5
16.5
2
9
8.7
104
Cow urine (1:20) 3
84
40
20
1
9
8.5
84
Coconut water
(1:10)
5
70
54
30
3
10
10.5
88
Calcium nitrate
(1%)
5
79
49
27
2
9
9.5
75
Micronutrient
mixture (0.05%)
5
81
54
30
2
11
10
90
Glucose (0.1%)
6
75
56
24
2
14
9
94
Mustard cake
(1kg/50 litres)
6
83
43
20
3
9
9
89
GA
3
(50 ppm)
5
84
46
22
2
10
10
108
BA (200 ppm)
6
80
46
19
3
12
9.5
110
GA
3
(50 ppm) +
BA (200 ppm)
6
90
60
30
4
15
10
115
CD
5%
1.34
5.80
3.86
3.59
0.76
2.18
1.19
4.96
