International Journal of Horticulture 2015, Vol.5, No.6, 1
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5
3
2.1 Flower quality and longevity
Good quality cut flowers with longer spike and rachis
length were observed with the pre-harvest foliar
treatments of GA
3
(50 ppm) + BA (200 ppm), Glucose
(0.1%), Micronutrient mixture (0.05%) and coconut
water (1:10). Longest spike (60 cm), rachis (30cm)
and highest number of spikes /plant (4) were found
with GA
3
(50 ppm) + BA (200 ppm) (Table 1).
Increase in rachis length due to GA
3
application has
been studied in gladiolus (Palanikumar and
Bhattacharjee, 2003, Srivastava et al., 2005). Number
of florets per spike varied significantly with all the
treatments. Maximum number of florets per spike (15)
was recorded with GA
3
(50 ppm) + BA (200 ppm)
followed by Glucose (0.1%) (14).
Foliar application with all the three growth regulators
enhanced flower longevity more than 100 days and
highest longevity of flower spikes was observed with
(115 days) GA
3
(50 ppm) + BA (200 ppm) (Table 1).
2.2 Carbohydrate content at flowering stage
Changes in carbohydrate content of pseudobulb, leaf
and flower had shown significant variable response
for the treatments. Highest carbohydrate content of
pseudobulb (242 mg/g) and flower (164mg/g) were
recorded with cow urine (1:20). Carbohydrate content
in leaf was estimated maximum with BA (200 ppm)
(182mg/g) followed by GA
3
(50 ppm) + BA (200 ppm)
(170mg/g) (Table 2). Total carbohydrate content was
estimated maximum with cow urine (1:20) (552 mg/g)
followed by 0.3% NPK (19:19:19) (484mg/g) and
micronutrient mixture (460mg/g). Carbohydrates
reserves of pseudobulbs and leaves have greatest
impact on development of shoots and inflorescence in
orchids (Hew and Ng, 1996, Ng and Hew, 2000).
Table 2 Changes in carbohydrate content (mg/g) at flowering stage in Cv. ‘Cymbidium’ as affected by pre-harvest treatments
Treatment
Pseudobulb
Leaf
Flower
Total
Average
Control
92
116
62
270
90
0.3% NPK (19:19:19)
204
134
146
484
161.3
Cow urine (1:20)
242
146
164
552
184
Coconut water (1:10)
136
116
148
400
133.3
Calcium nitrate (1%)
142
132
62
336
112
Micronutrient mixture (0.05%)
164
160
136
460
153.3
Glucose (0.1%)
126
134
124
384
128
Mustard cake (1kg/50 litres)
72
80
64
216
72
GA
3
(50 ppm)
136
138
148
422
140.6
BA (200 ppm)
144
182
98
424
141.3
GA
3
(50 ppm) + BA (200 ppm)
138
170
96
404
134.6
CD
5%
2.99
2.82
2.80
2.3 Post- harvest life
There was significant variation on reduction in
changes of fresh weight of cut flowers for all the
treatments. Minimum reduction of fresh weight of cut
flowers (4g) was observed with BA (200 ppm)
followed by GA
3
(50 ppm) + BA (200 ppm (5g) (Table
3). Calcium nitrate (1%) and Micronutrient mixture
(0.05%) had shown maximum reduction of fresh
weight of cut flowers (38g). Longevity of first floret
and vase life of spikes significantly varied with all
pre-harvest treatments. Longevity of first floret was
found maximum (62 days) with BA (200 ppm) while
maximum vase life (80days) was recorded with Coconut
water (1:10) (Table 3). Cytokinins play a key role in
initiation of cell division, delaying senescence and
subsequently increases vase life (Anju Pal et al., 2003).
Table 3 Post-harvest life of Cym. ‘PCMV’ as affected by pre-harvest treatments
Treatment
Reduction in weight(g)
Longevity of 1st floret (days) Solution uptake (ml) Vase life (days)
Control
16
27
40
55
0.3% NPK (19:19:19)
18
29
25
56
Cow urine (1:20)
26
49
30
56
Coconut water (1:10)
15
42
50
80
Calcium nitrate (1%)
38
50
70
75
Micronutrient mixture (0.05%) 38
50
50
56
Glucose (0.1%)
16
55
25
77
Mustard cake (1kg/50 litres)
14
56
35
75
GA
3
(50 ppm)
11
56
50
75
BA (200 ppm)
4
62
35
77
GA
3
(50 ppm) + BA (200 ppm) 5
49
40
77
CD
5%
2.60
3.60
5.65
4.97
