IMPACT OF ORGANIC ACIDS ON FLORAL LONGIVITY OF GLADIOLUS GRANDIFLORUS CV. RED FORTUNATE AND WHITE PROSPERITY

Abstract

Current study was conducted at Floral Research Area Institute of Horticulture Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad durning 2022. Experiment was planned to look into the feasibility of using malic acid and citric acid on two gladiolus cultivars. The research was comprised of two chemical preservatives, the first was citric acid (0, 100 mg/L, 200 mg/L, and 300 mg/L) and the second was malic acid (0, 100 mg/L, 200 mg/L, and 300 mg/L) along with 3% sucrose in all hold solutions that compared with distilled water as control. The collected data were analyzed statistically using the ANOVA technique through complete randomized design (CRD) and a comparison between the treatments was analyzed with the help of Least Significant Difference test at 5 percent probability level. The results showed that a preservative solution of citric acid at 100 mg/L enhanced the maximum vase life 9.5 and 8.9 days, to open 50 % florets (5.0) and (4.8) days, maximum relative fresh weight (150.0 g) and (148 g), maximum dry weight (17.9 g) and (14.4 g), maximum floret head diameter (73 mm) and (68 mm), maximum floret length (9.1 cm) and (8.5 cm), minimum open floret (48.2%) and (49.7%), best spike quality (7.9) and (7.3), maximum solution uptake (78.8 mL) and (78.0 mL) and minimum ion leakage % (73.5) and (75.5) in White Prosperity and Red Fortunate respectively as compared to control. While the preservative solution of malic acid at 300 mg/L gave maximum vase life (8.82) and (8.30) days, to open 50 % florets (4.03) and (3.67) days, maximum relative fresh weight (141.1 g) and (139.1 g), maximum dry weight (14.4 g) and (14.2 g), maximum floret head diameter (62 mm) and (56 mm), maximum floret length (8.2 cm) and (7.7 cm), minimum open floret % (53.51) and (55.5), best spike quality (6.45) and (5.85), maximum solution uptake (68.3 ml) and (67.5 ml) and minimum ion leakage% (71.4) and (73.3) in White Prosperity and Red Fortunate, respectively as compared to control. Hence, these preservatives enhance the vase life of cut flowers. So. recommended of these chemicals must be in access of industry personals and consumers.