Investigating the effect of 1-mcp, calcium chloride and silver nitrate on the shelf life of rose cut flowers

Group: plant products

Master's thesis in the field of plant-horticulture products

Abstract

Rose (Rosa hybrida) is considered one of the most popular flowers in the world, and its cut flowers are the most used among other flowers.  Due to the physiological reasons of being a rose cut flower, during its shelf life, it is highly susceptible to withering and reducing its freshness and vitality, and it is necessary to increase the life span of its cut branch as much as possible. This research was conducted on two Dutch varieties of roses named Angelina and Dulce and in order to investigate the effect of some chemicals called methylcyclopropane (mcp-1) with a concentration of (10 ppm), silver nitrate (AGNO3) with a concentration of (300 ppm), calcium chloride (Cacl2) with a concentration of (5 g/liter) and their mutual effects, as well as the effect of the length of time the cuttings are kept on some physicochemical properties, quality and lifespan of the cuttings. Roses of the mentioned cultivars were grown in Damghan Islamic Azad University in 2012, and sampling was done daily during the storage period of the cut flowers. In the investigation of the physicochemical and qualitative changes of the cut rose branches, it was found that the application of the mentioned chemicals had no significant effect on the leaf surface, fresh and dry weight of the cut branches, but there was a significant difference between the two cultivars tested in terms of these traits. (at the one percent probability level). In terms of flower diameter, the silver nitrate and 1-methylcyclopropane mixture treatment produced the largest flower diameter, and its difference with other treatments was significant, and also in terms of time, the third day after harvest, it produced the largest flower diameter and was significant compared to other times (at the 1% level).  The effect of cultivar type on petal water potential showed that the water potential in the petals of these two cultivars was significantly different from each other and its amount in Angelina cultivar was higher than Dulce Vita cultivar and its amount in Angelina cultivar with a flower diameter of 40 mm was about 25% more than Dulce Vita cultivar and also in terms of this trait, 1-methylcyclopropane treatment created the highest water potential with a rate of 55% compared to other treatments and also the mixed application of calcium chloride and Nitric Nitrate It created the lowest water potential in the petals. The experiments showed that the wilting percentage of the two tested cultivars had a significant difference and the wilting percentage in the Angelina cultivar was about 6% higher than that of the Dulce Vita cultivar. The results showed that the effect of different chemical treatments on the wilting percentage of flowers had a significant effect compared to the control, and the highest wilting percentage was obtained with the use of silver nitrate and showed a significant difference with other treatments. The treatments of 1-methylcyclopropane and the mixture of all three substances caused the lowest percentage of wilting, which can be suggested as a desirable treatment to reduce the percentage of wilting in roses. A positive and significant relationship was observed between the increase in dry weight and the increase in flower diameter with a decrease in flower wilting and an increase in the life span of cut flowers. rtl;">Rose or red flower is one of the most important flowers that is traded both in vases and in cut form in the world markets, so that today it ranks first in the world in terms of economy and cultivation (Vandorn and Duhant 1994).

Rose is one of the most important cut flowers in the world, and many studies have been done to maintain its quality after harvesting. New varieties of roses were imported to Iran especially during the last 50 years (Khaleqi, 2014). The short lifespan of roses is due to the reduction of water conductivity in its stems, which is usually associated with early withering, bending of the neck and failure to open the flowers (Jin et al. 2006). The change in the color of the petals in roses and their drying, which usually starts from the edge of the petals, are the main factors of their unavailability. The flowers are marketed (Esfanani et al., 2006). Among the pigments, anthocyanins present in the petals show many changes in appearance after harvest. The reduction of anthocyanin in the petals has a direct relationship with the reduction of life after harvest and the marketability of roses (Esfanani et al., 2016).

Many factors control the life of roses after harvest, which can be divided into pre-harvest and post-harvest factors.

Several factors control the post-harvest life of roses, which can be divided into pre-harvest factors and post-harvest factors. The number, amount of carbohydrates, calcium and cobalt stored in flower tissues are among the pre-harvest factors (Battacharach, 1994). Storage temperature, internal ethylene concentration and storage environment, surface contamination with microorganisms are post-harvest factors. which strongly affects the shelf life of flowers (Farakorohamkaran, 1986).

In order to delay aging and prolong the shelf life of cut flowers, various chemical compounds are used, including: 1-methylcyclopropane (1-MCP), silver ion, aminovinylglycine (AVG), and aminoethoxyacetic acid (AOA).

The combination of 1-MCP and silver ion inhibits the action of ethylene, but the other two compounds act as inhibitors of ethylene synthesis, which increase the life of products after harvest by reducing ethylene production (Ging et al., 2009).

Factors such as pollination, drought and temperature stress with changes in hormonal levels and the production of reactive oxygen species, flower senescence accelerates them (Zhang and Kairkham, 1996). Aging is an oxidative process and reactive oxygen species and the antioxidant system are involved in it (Bachana, 1997). The decrease in the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the increase in the peroxidation of cell membrane lipids have been mentioned as a reason for aging in various plant species (Dindsauhemkaran, 1981).

2-1-2 Rose in culture

Rose has the first place in terms of the number of national flowers and has been chosen as the national flower in 10 countries, America, England, Italy, Iran, Romania, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Luxembourg, Bulgaria (Main, 1357). A number of Iranian university professors held a meeting, the Mohammadi rose was approved and selected as the country's national flower (Nasri, 2008). Among these flowers, the choice of rose is the symbol of the current royal family of England (Moin, 1357). The choice of this flower as the national flower dates back to the time of England's civil wars called the War of Roses. The War of the Roses was fought in the second half of the 15th century between 1455 and 1485 between the two powerful families of Lancaster with the "red rose" and York with the "white rose" and their supporters in England. Finally, the Lancaster family succeeded in defeating the York family in 1485. Currently, roses are also considered the national flower of England (Moin, 1357). In the ancient Iranian calendar, the 19th day of every month was called Farvardin. On the first day of March, a festival is held in Iran called Nowruz Anhar. On this day, people go to the plains and dams, especially by the rivers and springs, and sprinkle perfume and rose water in the water during a ceremony (Razi, 1358). In the history of Beyhaqi, another festival called the flower-flowering festival is mentioned, which is apparently held on a special day, and people throw roses on each other's heads during the season. They spread flowers (Razi, 1358). Nowadays, one of the remaining customs related to the rose flower is the Gholtan ritual, which is held in different areas of Damghan city in the first spring of a baby's life. The time to perform this ritual is from birth to the first year of the baby, and according to the beliefs and opinions of the people of the region, rolling the baby's body among the leaves of the mohammedy flower keeps him fresh and healthy and keeps him away from various diseases. The traditional ritual of the rolling flower is recorded in the list of spiritual (intangible) works of the country (Razi, 1358).

This flower is mentioned in the story of One Thousand and One Nights as well as Omar Khayyam's quatrains (about 1,100 years ago) (Maqtadar, 1323). In Ferdowsi's Shahnameh, the word flower belongs exclusively to the rose flower, and flower leaf also means a rose leaf or a rose petal or the rose itself. And in this way, the coming of the word leaf before the name of other flowers also means the petal of that flower or that flower itself. In the first verse of the following poem, the flower leaf means red flower, and in the second verse, the flower leaf means pomegranate flower (Grami, 2012).