The vase life of Ophiopogon japonicus foliage can be extended from 5.1 days to 12.5 days by giving benzylaminopurine based vase solutions

Ophiopogon japonicus (L.f.) Ker-Gawl (family Liliaceae) is an export-oriented foliage plant with attractive white-green strips. The vase life of this cut foliage ends when the leaves loose turgidity and/ or bright green colour. Thus, to enhance the vase life of O. japonicus, following pulsing treatments were tested:- 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 mM CuSO4.5H2O?- 10, 20, and 30 g/L sucrose and combination of sucrose with 0.5 mM CuSO4.5H2O as holding treatments- 20?g/L and 30 g/L sucrose solutions as 24 h pulsing treatments and?6-Benzylaminopurine 5, 10, 20 mg/L BAP.? Relative?fresh weight of leaves, solution uptake rate and vase life were?assessed. Vase solution bacterial enumerations were carried?out to evaluate the effectiveness of CuSO4?.5H2O as a biocide. To investigate the function of BAP, amount of chlorophyll?was quantified using leaf pigment extracts. The vase life of?O. japonicus could be extended from 5.1 days to 12.5 days by?giving BAP based vase solutions. Chlorophyll contents of leaves?dipped in BAP solutions were significantly higher than the control?(distilled water). CuSO4?solutions did not show any significant?antibacterial effects compared to the control. According to vase?life data,?the most effective vase solutions were CuSO4?.5H2O?(0.5 mM), sucrose 20 g/L with CuSO4.5H2O (0.5 mM) as holding?treatments, sucrose 20 g/L and 30 g/L as pulsing treatments and?BAP treatments (5, 10, 20 mg/L). SourcesEffect of different vase solutions on postharvest longevity of cut foliage Ophiopogon japonicusS. M. K. H. Wijayabandara1,*, J. W. Damunupola2, S. A. Krishnarajah3, W. A. M. Daundasekera2 and D. S. A.Wijesundara41?Postgraduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka2?Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka3?Department of National Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka4?National Institute of Fundamental Studies, Hantana road, Kandy, Sri LankaCeylon Journal of Science 47(2) 2018: 195-19DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/cjs.v47i2.7516 Picture by Blooming Designs Nursery,?Ophiopogon japonicus ?Nana variegata?