Effect of Sucrose and Salicylic Acid on Extension of Vase Life of Gladiolus (Gladiolus hybridus Hort.) cv. White Prosperity

Abstract

The present investigation, entitled "Effect of Sucrose and Salicylic Acid on Extension of Vase Life of Gladiolus (Gladiolus hybridus Hort.) cv. White Prosperity", was conducted to evaluate the influence of different concentrations of sucrose and salicylic acid on the postharvest quality and vase life of gladiolus spikes. The experiment included 20 treatments comprising sucrose at 5, 10, 15 and 20%, salicylic acid at 50, 100 and 150 ppm, their selected combinations, and an untreated control. The results showed significant variation among treatments for all postharvest quality parameters. Among the treatments, T₁₃ (sucrose 10% + salicylic acid 150 ppm) was the most effective, recording the highest fresh weight (65.1 g), floret diameter (8.8 cm), floret length (9.5 cm), percentage change in spike length (4.2%), vase solution uptake (172.0 g), longevity of the first five florets (7.8 days), number of opened florets per spike (10.6), percentage of opened florets (94.0%) and vase life (13.4 days). In contrast, the untreated control recorded the lowest values for most parameters, with a vase life of 6.2 days. The improved postharvest performance under combined sucrose and salicylic acid treatments may be associated with better carbohydrate availability, increased water uptake, maintenance of cellular turgidity, delayed senescence, reduced ethylene production and enhanced antioxidant activity. The study concluded that pulsing gladiolus spikes with 10% sucrose and 150 ppm salicylic acid may be an effective postharvest treatment for improving flower quality and extending vase life in cv. White Prosperity.