Inhibiting the effects of ethylene is a more important factor than reducing bacterial counts in increasing vase life of Boronia

Boronia heterophylla, commonly called red boronia, is grown for cut flower production in Australia, Israel, New Zealand, and the United States; however, there is little published information about its vase life. This study evaluates commonly-used vase solution additives and the influence of bacterial numbers in the vase solutions and stem segments. Two stages of maturity were evaluated: late harvest, indicated by incipient petal closure and fading below the calyx, and normal harvest maturity, characterized by open, bright pink petals. The nine vase solution treatments were as follows:1) 8-HQC (250mg/L)2) Distilled water control3) Acidified distilled water4) Citric acid (10 mM)5) Citric acid (10 mM)+ sucrose6) Citric acid + chlorine (SDIC, 50mg/L)7) Citric acid (10 mM)+ sucrose + chlorine8) STS pulse (0.5 mM for 10.5 hours), then into distilled water9) Citric acid (1.43 mM) Vase life was ended when more than 50% of the flowers on the leafy racemose inflorescence exhibited wilting. The evaluation room was held at 20C and 58-65% relative humidity with 12-hour light cycles. Bacterial presence in the vase water and the plant stems was also measured. The STS pulse resulted in an average vase life of 12.9 days. The next longest vase life was citric acid (1.43 mM) at 9.6 days. Treatments that included chlorine had the shortest vase life, only 4 days. The control, with distilled water only, had a vase life of 6.3 days. Considering all treatment variables, this study indicated that inhibiting the effects of ethylene was a more important factor than reducing bacterial counts in increasing vase life. SourcesWilliamson, V.G., D.C. Joyce, 2013. Boronia heterophylla vase life is influenced more by ethylene than by bacterial numbers or vase solution pH. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 84:28-35. Published by The Cut Flower Quarterly, Summer 2013, author Megan Bame The picture is by www.australianplantssa.asn.au? ?