Effects of calcium silicate and calcium chelate on bent neck and vase life of roses (Rosa hybrida) cv. ‘Dolce Vita’

Document Type : scientific research article

Authors

1 Department of Horticultural Science, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

2 Department of Horticultural Science, Urmia University, Urmia. Iran

Abstract

Background and purpose: Rose is one of the most important cut flowers in the world which one of its main physiological disorders is the bent neck in the postharvest stage. Calcium plays an important role in plant cell wall strength and silicon plays a role in photosynthesis and extending vase life of cut flowers. The present study was conducted to evaluate calcium silicate and calcium chelate effects on some biochemical indices, bent neck and vase life of rose cut flowers in the postharvest stage.
Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted as a factorial study, based on a completely randomized design with 3 replications under hydroponic condition in a commercial greenhouse. Foliar application of calcium silicate and calcium chelate in the pre-harvest stage was performed once a week for 1 month and calcium silicate and calcium chelate at concentrations of 100, 100, 200 and 400 mg. l-1 and 25, 25, 50 and 100 mg. l-1 were used, respectively. After flower harvesting in commercial stage, indices such as chlorophyll index, petal anthocyanin, leaf phenol content, leaf antioxidant capacity, petal ion leakage, vase life and flower bent neck were evaluated.
Results: The results of the present study showed that the application of calcium chelate at concentration of 100 mg. l-1 and calcium silicate at 200 mg. l-1 concentrations were more effective in improving the measured characteristics of cut roses, so that the vase life and bent neck indices showed greater improvement due to the application of 400 mg. l-1 calcium silicate and 200 mg. l-1 calcium chelate compared to control and other treatments. Chlorophyll index and petal anthocyanin contents showed a significant increase due to the use of calcium silicate and calcium chelate, and concentrations of 100 mg. l-1 calcium chelate and 200 mg. l-1 calcium silicate were more effective in increasing anthocyanin levels. Application of calcium chelate and calcium silicate also significantly reduced the amount of petal ion leakage and leaf MDA content compared to the control. Biochemical indices, including leaf antioxidant capacity and leaf phenolic content increased significantly due to the application of calcium silicate and calcium chelate. Leaf phenol content was significantly increased due to the application of 200 mg. l-1 silicate-calcium and 100 mg. l-1 calcium chelate. Conclusion: In general, it can be said that the combined application of calcium silicate and calcium chelate at 200 mg. l-1 and 100 mg. l-1 respectively, can be used as effective treatments to improve the quality, vase life and reducing bent neck incidence in ‘Dolce Vita’ cut rose flowers.

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Journal of Plant Production Research
Volume 31, Issue 2
August 2024
Pages 171-189

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