Enhancing the Keeping Quality and Vase Life of Cut Roses (Rosa hybrida L) Using Chitosan and Bio Holding Solution

Abstract

Cut roses have a short postharvest life, making preservation of water relations, visual quality and vase longevity important. The present study evaluated chitosan-based bio-holding solutions for maintaining the postharvest quality and extending the vase life of cut rose (Rosa hybrida L.). The experiment was conducted during 2024–25 at the Department of Floriculture and Landscaping Laboratory, College of Horticulture and Research Station, Sankra-Patan, Durg, Chhattisgarh. Ten treatments (T₀–T₉) comprising distilled water and chitosan combined with different bio-based components were evaluated under a completely randomised design. Significant differences were observed among the treatments for transpiration loss of water, physiological loss in flower weight, solution uptake, time to first petal drop, flower discolouration and vase life. Treatment T₇, comprising chitosan at 4.76% with Azadirachta extract at 2.5%, recorded the lowest transpiration loss (3.28 g/f), lowest physiological loss in flower weight (2.52 g), highest solution uptake (31.82 g/f), lowest flower discolouration score (1.24) and longest vase life (12.40 days). The maximum period before first petal drop (9.20 days) was recorded with T₆, consisting of chitosan at 4.76% and Ocimum extract at 5%. In comparison, distilled water produced a vase life of 5.20 days and a solution uptake of 18.28 g/f. Under the conditions of this experiment, chitosan combined with selected botanical extracts improved several postharvest quality attributes of cut roses, with T₇ showing the most favourable overall response.