The EC of the vase solution influences water uptake of Gladiolus sp.

Previous works indicate that there still no standard vase solution for cut flower vase life storage. Tap water does not present similar composition in different regions and can show variations even within particular urban areas. Experiments reveal that distilled water vary among different laboratories and also do not have a standard composition. The water electrical conductivity (EC) is one of the parameters evaluated as a physical characteristic that influences the water uptake by cut flowers. Therefore, the objective of this work was to evaluate the electrical conductivity as a parameter for normalizing the vase solution. Stems of Gladiolus sp. cv. Gold Field were harvested and immediately placed in different vase solutions. The stems were kept in distilled water (pH 6.6, EC 1.79 ?S/cm) and tap water (pH 7.0, EC 75.58 ?S/cm) at room temperature. Flowers kept in tap water showed lower fresh weight loss and absorbed more water during vase life evaluation. In a second set of experiments, we verified the saturation limit of EC supported by the plant. For this, cut flowers were placed in individual tubes containing the distilled water with different ion concentrations. The solutions constituted of:- 125 mg L-1 NaHCO3, 99 mg L-1 CaCl2, 1,2 mg L-1 CuSO4 (Solution 1: pH 10.0, EC 315 ?S/cm); - 250 mg L-1 NaHCO3, 198 mg L-1 CaCl2, 2.4 mg L-1CuSO4 (Solution 2: pH 10.4, EC 600 ?S/cm); - 375 mg L-1 NaHCO3, 297 mg L-1 CaCl2, 3.6 mg L-1 CuSO4 (Solution 3: pH 10.5, EC 875 ?S/cm) and- 500 mg L-1 NaHCO3, 396 mg L-1 CaCl2, 4.8 mg L-1 CuSO4 (Solution 4: pH 10.7, EC 1346 ?S/cm). Using regression analysis, it was found that the Solution 2 allowed the maximum water uptake by the flowers. ? Original title, complete list of authors and sourcesInfluence of the vase solution on water uptake of Gladiolus sp.L.C. Costa, W.S. Ribeiro, T.D.C. Mendes, F.L. FingerUniversidade Federal de Vi?osa, 36570-900, Vi?osa, Minas Gerais, Brazil V Postharvest Unlimited, ISHS International Conference, 10-13 June 2014, Cyprus, http://web.cut.ac.cy/postharvest/ The picture is by http://floresbonitas.dmtienda.com ? Key wordsPoscosecha??????????? postcosecha??????????? postharvest??? na-oes??????????? ?? ??? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? post-r?colte???? ?? ?????????? ??????????? na-oogst?? post-raccolta??????????? Obr?bka po?? p?s-colheita??????????? ????????????????????????? hasat sonras???????????? ??????????? Ernte??????????? ????????????????????????? ???? ?????????????????????? postcollita??????????? poskliz?ov頠? ????????????? ?? ???????? ??????????? nakon branja??????????? pozberov頠??? ??????????? obdelovanje zemlje po??????? post-colleita??????????? ????? ???????????????? pascapanen??? ?il?onn postharvest??????????? ??????????????? p?c ra?as??????????? derliaus apdirbimas po??????? lepas tuai???? ?? ?? ????????????????? post-recoltare??????????? ?????? ???????????????? ??????????????????????? ?????????????????????? ?????????????????????????? sau thu ho?ch??????????? ?????????????????????????? zangemva kwenkathi yokuvuna Flores? ??????????? flowers??????????? blomme????????? ???????????????? ??????????? ??????????? fleur??????????? ???????????????? ??????????? ??????????? fiore??? ??????????? ??????????? ????????????????? ?i?ek?? ??????????? Gladiolo???????? ??????????? ??????????? Gladiolus??????? ??????????????? ??????????? ??????????? gla?eul??????????? ??????????????? ????????????????????? zwaardlelie???? ??????????? mieczyk??????????? glad?olo??????????? ???????????????????? kuzgunk?l?c???? ??????????? Gladiole????????????????????? ??????????????????????? ??????????????????????? ??????????????????????? ??????????????????????? ??????????????????????? ??????????????????????? ???????????????????????