Journal

Journal of Applied Horticulture, 8(2): 147-150, July-December, 2006

Appl

Effect of different stalk lengths and certain chemical

substances on vase life of gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii Hook.)
cv. ‘Savana Red’

M.A. Meman and K.M. Dabhi

N. M. College of Agriculture, Department of Horticulture, Navsari, Gujarat Agricultural University.
E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract
An experiment was carried out to determine the effect of different stalk lengths and certain chemical substances on vase life of gerbera
(Gerbera jamesonii Hook.) Cv. ‘Savana Red’. Twenty treatment combinations consisting of four chemicals viz., sucrose 4 %, sucrose
4 % + 8-HQC 250 ppm , sucrose 4 % + aluminum sulphate 100 ppm , sucrose 4 % + citric acid 250 ppm , along with control (distilled
water) and four lengths of stalk viz., 30, 40, 50, and 60 cm. The vase solution of sucrose 4% + 8-HQC 250 ppm and stalk length of
60 cm, individually and in combination increased fresh weight of flowers by promoting solution uptake. These treatments are also
beneficial for improving the vase life of flowers and useful life of flowers, opening of disc florets, with bright, shining red colour and
freshness for a longer duration.
Key words: Gerbera, Gerbera jamesonii Hook., stalk length, chemicals, vase life, sucrose, citric acid, HQC

Introduction Gujarat Agricultural University, Navsari Campus, Navsari.

Gerbera belongs to the family Asteraceae, which consists of many Twenty treatment combinations consisting of four chemicals
other important cut flowers namely aster, dahlia, chrysanthemum, viz., sucrose 4 % (T1), sucrose 4 % + 8-HQC 250 ppm (T2),
gaillardia, zinnia, marigold etc. (Bose and Yadav, 1989). The sucrose 4 % + aluminum sulphate 100 ppm (T3), sucrose 4%
genus Gerbera, named in the honour of German naturalist, + citric acid 250 ppm (T4) along with control (distilled water)
Traugott Gerber, consists of about 40 species of hardy and (T0) and four lengths of stalk viz., 30 cm (L1), 40 cm (L2), 50
perennial flowering plants, out of which only Gerbera jamesonii cm (L3), and 60 cm (L4) were tried in Completely Randomized
Hook. is under cultivation. It is native to Natal and Transvaal Design with Factorial concept. All the treatments were repeated
and is commonly known as Transvaal daisy, Barberton daisy or thrice. The experimental material were kept in glass bottles of
African dasiy. It is an important flower grown through out the 300 mL capacity holding 250 mL treatment solution prepared in
world under wide range of climatic conditions. the laboratory and a bunch of three stalks of gerbera (Cv. Savana
Red), harvested at the stage when the outer two row of disc florets
Keeping quality of flowers is affected by internal and external were perpendicular to the stalk. Total sixty glass bottles and one
factors. The internal factors which are responsible for the hundred and eighty stalks, having four different uniform lengths
keeping quality of cut blooms, are the rate of water absorption of 30, 40, 50 and 60 cm were utilized. The stalks were slightly
and transpiration. Both these factors again depend on the relative recut at basal end at every 3rd day during experimentation. The
area of absorption and the total water holding capacity of the data on uptake of solution (mL) at 3rd, 6th and 9th days, time taken
tissues. After the flower is detached, the area of absorption is (days) to open 50, 75, and 100 % disc florets, useful life of flowers
reduced drastically, whereas the rate of proportionate area for (days), vase life of flower (days), recorded during the experiment
transpiration is much higher. Therefore, unless something is were subjected to statistical analysis. The design with factorial
done to reduce transpiration, the cut flower will wither in less concept as described by Panse and Sukhatme (1967) was used.
time. Respiration is another internal factor that affects the life of The significance of the treatment differences was tested by ‘F’
the cut flower. Besides, some environmental factors also affect test on the basis of null hypothesis. The appropriate standard error
cut flower life. These are temperature, relative humidity and of mean (S.Em.±) were calculated in each case and the critical
wind velocity. Postharvest handling plays an important role in differences (C.D.) at 5 per cent level of probability was worked
enhancing keeping quality of flowers wherein efforts are made out to compare the two treatment effects.
to reduce stem plugging, restrict microbial activity, delay flower
senescence through provision of external source of water and Results
nutrients as required by the flower.
The data on solution uptake by gerbera flower on third, sixth
and ninth day are presented in Table 1. The effect of different
Materials and methods chemicals and stalk length on solution uptake by gerbera flower
The experiment was conducted at the P.G Research Laboratory, after three, six and nine days were found to be significant. Among
Department of Horticulture, N.M. College of Agriculture, different chemicals, maximum uptake of solution (45.0 mL) at
148 Effect of different stalk lengths and certain chemical substances on vase life of gerbera

Table 1. Effect of different chemicals and stalk lengths (cm) on the Among the different chemicals the highest time taken for opening
solution uptake by the gerbera flowers of 50% disc florets (7.18 days), 75 % disc florets (9.08 days),
Treatments Solution uptake (mL) 100% disc florets (10.49 days) was recorded when gerbera stalks
3rd day 6th day 9th day were kept in solution of sucrose (4 %)+ 8-HQC (250 ppm) (T2).
Chemicals (T) The interactions effect of different chemicals and stalk lengths
T1 28.25 18.64 1.94 on time taken for opening of 50, 75 and 100 % disc florets was
T2 45.00 41.2 23.94 found to be significant and have been presented in Table 4. The
T3 30.60 26.36 11.32 data indicated that the maximum time taken for opening of 50%
T4 34.84 28.14 17.49 disc florets (7.83 days), 75 % disc florets (10.37 days), 100%
T0 21.56 14.91 0.00 disc florets (12.18 days) was resulted when gerbera stalk having
LSD (P=0.05) 0.99 0.70 0.49 longest length were kept in solution of sucrose (4 %)+ 8-HQC
Stalk lengths (L) (250 ppm) (T2 L4). The data presented in Table 5 on the effect of
L1 24.14 18.13 0.00 different chemical and stalk lengths on the useful life of gerbera
L2 28.40 22.74 11.26 was found to be significant. The data presented in Table 5 revealed
L3 33.79 27.36 13.5
L4 41.86 35.16 18.99 Table 3. Effect of different chemicals and stalk lengths (cm) on the time
LSD (P=0.05) 0.88 0.62 0.44 taken to open 50, 75 and 100 per cent disc florets of gerbera
Zero value indicate that these flowers had completed their vase life Treatments Time taken to open (days)
before ninth day. 50 % disc florets 75% disc florets 100% disc florets
Table 2. Interaction effect of different chemicals and stalk lengths (cm) Chemical (T)
on the solution uptake by the gerbera flowers T1 5.21 6.90 7.75
Treatments Solution uptake (mL) T2 7.18 9.08 10.49
3rd day 6th day 9th day T3 6.17 7.93 8.77
T0L1 14.76 10.13 0.00 T4 6.33 8.70 9.20
T0L2 19.56 13.43 0.00 T0 4.25 5.75 6.29
T0L3 21.1 15.06 0.00
LSD (P=0.05) 0.19 0.14 0.28
T0L4 30.83 21.03 0.00
Stalk length (L)
T1L1 17.96 13.00 0.00
L1 5.30 6.55 7.19
T1L2 21.8 16.80 0.00
L2 5.32 7.34 7.93
T1L3 33.3 19.16 0.00
L3 6.02 7.98 9.07
T1L4 39.96 25.60 7.76
T2L1 41.46 32.43 0.00 L4 6.67 8.82 9.66
T2L2 43.26 40.43 28.50 LSD (P=0.05) 0.19 0.12 0.25
T2L3 45.40 41.60 29.70
Table 4. Interaction effect of different chemicals and stalk lengths
T2L4 49.86 46.40 37.56 (cm) on the time taken to open 50, 75 and 100 per cent disc florets of
T3L1 22.50 18.43 0.00 gerbera
T3L2 26.50 21.60 10.58 Treatments Time taken to open (days)
T3L3 32.23 26.36 16.40 50 % disc florets 75% disc florets 100% disc florets
T3L4 41.16 39.06 18.30
T0L1 3.62 5.47 5.96
T3L1 24.03 16.67 0.00
T0L2 4.09 5.61 5.98
T3L2 30.90 21.36 17.23
T0L3 4.53 5.72 6.50
T3L3 36.93 30.80 21.40
T0L4 4.79 6.21 6.73
T3L4 47.50 43.73 31.33
T1L1 4.15 6.23 6.52
LSD (P=0.05) 1.98 1.40 0.99
T1L2 5.06 6.47 6.94
Zero value indicate that these flowers had completed their vase life T1L3 5.17 6.52 8.02
before ninth day.
T1L4 6.46 8.40 8.80
third day, (41.2 mL) at sixth day and at ninth day (23.94 mL) T2L1 6.83 7.19 8.73
were observed when flower stalks were kept in the solution of T2L2 6.76 9.19 10.06
sucrose (4 %) + 8 –HQC (250 ppm) (T2). Among different stalk T2L3 7.30 9.56 11.0
lengths, maximum amount of solution 41.86, 35.76 and 18.99 T2L4 7.83 10.37 12.18
mL was absorbed by gerbera flower having L4 stalk length at T3L1 6.40 6.30 6.66
third, sixth, and ninth day. The interaction effect of different T3L2 5.21 7.53 8.00
chemicals and stalk length on solution uptake by gerbera flower T3L3 6.50 8.66 10.10
on third day (Table 2) was significant. Maximum solution T3L4 6.59 9.23 10.33
uptake at third (49.86 mL), sixth (46.4 mL) and ninth day (37.56 T3L1 5.51 7.56 8.10
mL) was noticed when longest gerbera flower (L4) was kept T3L2 5.47 7.90 8.68
in solution of sucrose (4 %)+ 8-HQC (250 ppm) (T2 L4). The T3L3 6.63 9.46 9.72
data pertaining to 50, 75 and 100 % opening of florets revealed T3L4 7.70 9.88 10.3
LSD (P=0.05) 0.69 0.28 0.57
that all the treatments showed significant difference (Table 3).
 Effect of different stalk lengths and certain chemical substances on vase life of gerbera 149

Table 5. Effect of different chemicals and stalk lengths (cm) on useful life of flower presented in Table 6 was found to be significant.
life and vase life of gerbera flowers Longer vase life (13.65 days) was obtained when gerbera stalk
Treatments Useful life of flowers Vase life of flowers of 60 cm length were kept in sucrose (4 %)+ 8-HQC (250 ppm)
(days) (days) solution ( T2 L4).
Chemicals (T)
T1 6.46 7.96 Discussion
T2 9.87 11.31
From the Table 1 and 2, it is obvious that the solution uptake
T3 7.85 9.66 through stalk was influenced by chemicals, stalk lengths and
T4 8.31 9.94 their combinations. The absorption of water through stalk was
T0 5.04 7.66 maximum at 3rd, 6th and 9th day when stalks were kept in vase
LSD (P=0.05) 0.26 0.36 solution of sucrose (4 %)+ 8-HQC (250 ppm). Similar results
Stalk lengths (L) were obtained in gladiolus (De et al., 1996) and in tuberose
L1 5.82 6.96 (Reddy et al., 1997). A beneficial effect of sucrose in absorption
L2 7.11 9.14 was reported by De and Barman (1998b) in tuberose and of
8-HQC by Bhattacharjee (1993) in rose. Other chemicals like
L3 8.09 10.05
aluminum sulphate was beneficial as it acidified the holding
L4 9.00 11.07
solution, which results in greater solution uptake by gerbera.
LSD (P=0.05) 0.23 0.32 Similar results were obtained in gladiolus (Gowda and Gowda,
Table 6. Interaction effect of different chemicals and stalk lengths (cm)
1990) and in tuberose (Saini et al., 1997 and De and Barman,
on useful life and vase life of gerbera flowers 1998a). Aluminum sulphate with sucrose in vase solution
Treatments Useful life of flowers Vase life of flowers significantly influenced the water uptake of the tuberose cut
(days) (days) spike (Reddy and Singh, 1996). The maximum solution uptake
T0L1 4.14 6.48 by cut flower stalks was observed in longest stalk of gerbera at
T0L2 4.86 7.69 3rd , 6th and 9th day. Similar result was obtained by Bhattacharjee
T0L3 5.12 7.88 (1993, 94) in rose. Maximum solution uptake was observed under
T0L4 6.06 8.60 interaction of 60 cm long stalk length and sucrose (4 %)+ 8-HQC
T1L1 5.63 5.79 (250 ppm) thus longer stalk length having more carbohydrate
T1L2 6.19 7.86 and HQC reduced stem blockage which results in increase in
T1L3 6.72 8.50 the solution uptake.
T1L4 7.30 9.70
Results revealed that time taken for opening of the disc florets
T2L1 6.91 7.98
was significantly influenced by chemicals and stalk lengths
T2L2 10.12 11.30
individually as well as by their combination (Table 3 and 4).
T2L3 10.74 12.30
The maximum time taken to open the disc florets was recorded
T2L4 11.69 13.65
in sucrose (4 %)+ 8-HQC (250 ppm) (T2) solution. According to
T3L1 6.51 7.76
Larsen and Cromorty (1967) and Burdett (1970) the microbial
T3L2 7.19 9.39
growth are checked by the germicidal and bactericidal properties
T3L3 7.93 10.2
of these chemical substances and thereby were found effective
T3L4 9.77 11.2
for gladiolus (Lal et al., 1990 and Murali and Reddy, 1991).
T3L1 5.94 11.3
Other chemical treatments like sucrose (4 %) + aluminum
T3L2 7.23 6.80
sulphate (100 ppm) and sucrose (4 %) + citric acid (250 ppm)
T3L3 9.92 9.46
significantly delayed opening of disc florets over control. In case
T3L4 10.16 11.36
of stalk lengths, maximum time taken for opening of disc florets
LSD (P=0.05) 0.52 0.73
was recorded for flowers having longest stalk length of 60 cm
that among different chemicals, longest useful life of flower (9.87 (L4). Interaction effect of chemical and stalk length indicated that
days) was obtained in sucrose (4 %)+ 8-HQC (250 ppm) (T2). maximum time taken for opening of disc florets was observed
Among flower lengths, the highest useful life of flower (9.0 days) with the stalk having maximum length and kept in sucrose (4
was recorded from L4 (60 cm).The interaction effect of different %) + 8-HQC (250 ppm) solution.
chemicals on useful life of flower was also found to be significant
(Table 6). Longest useful life of flower (11.69 days) was recorded Maximum useful life was recorded in longest stalk length alone
when gerbera cut flower having maximum length L4 (60 cm) and in combination with chemicals like sucrose and 8-HQC. This
were kept in solution of sucrose (4 %)+ 8-HQC (250 ppm) (T2 may be due to higher carbohydrate, thus promoting respiration
L4). The data furnished in the Table 5 revealed that among the and extending the longevity. Similar results were obtained in
different chemicals, the maximum vase life (11.31 days) was tuberose (De and Barman, 1998b). Sucrose is a main source of
obtained by the use of sucrose (4 %)+ 8-HQC (250 ppm) (T2). energy and good respiratory substrate for the maintenance of
In case of stalk length, the vase life of gerbera increased with osmotic potential while 8-HQC helped in controlling harmful
increase in length. The maximum vase life of stalk (11.07 days) bacteria and prevented bacterial plugging of water conducting
was obtained when stalk of gerbera was of 60 cm length (L4). The tissues and there by increased useful life of gerbera stalk.
interaction effect of different chemicals and stalk length on vase Maximum vase life was obtained with sucrose (4 %) +8-HQC
150 Effect of different stalk lengths and certain chemical substances on vase life of gerbera

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