EFFECTS OF 2-HYDROXY-3-IONENE CHLORIDE POLYMER ON THE VASE LIFE OF CUT ROSE FLOWERS

Cut rose (Rosa hybrida, cv. Sonia) flowers, with or without leaves, we re treated with an aqueous solution of 500 mg 1(-1) 2-hydroxy-3-ionene chloride polymer (HICP), a quaternary ammonium compound, for 4 h, and then transferred to tap water. The pulse treatment with HICP was mark edly effective in extending the vase life of cut flowers with leaves, but was ineffective for those without leaves. Irrespective of the pres ence or absence of leaves, HICP suppressed the reduction in fresh weig ht of cut flowers with time. The amounts of water uptake and water los s by the cut flowers with leaves decreased until the 4th day after har vest, but both values were higher in cut flowers treated with HICP tha n in those without treatment. Hydraulic conductance decreased with tim e, and HICP suppressed this decrease, although the number of bacteria in the lower segment of the flower stem was not decreased by HICP. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.