Abstract

The experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of different chemical solutions (C₁= sucrose (20%) + [Al₂ (SO₄)₃ .-16H₂O  300 ppm], C₂= sucrose (20%) + [Al₂ (SO₄)₃ .-16H₂O] 300 ppm + GA₃ 50 ppm and C₃= Control (Distilled water)) and five storage durations viz., (S₀ = 0 days, S₁ = 7 days, S₂ = 14 days, S₃ = 21 days and S₄ = 28 days) on keeping quality of cut spikes of gladiolus ‘White Prosperity’. The results showed that chemical solutions as well as storage durations significantly influenced the studied parameters. Among the chemical solutions, C₂ was significantly superior with regard to days to open basal floret, vase life, number of florets opened, floret size, longevity of open florets and fresh weight gain/loss, while the lowest values of these parameters were recorded in control treatment. Similarly, shorter storage durations of 0 days (S₀) recorded higher vase life, longevity of open floret and total water absorption, while days to open the basal floret and floret size were superior in S₃ storage and rest of the parameters were significantly higher in S₂ storage duration. The spikes stored in S₄ treatment did not open either pulsed with chemical solutions or in control.

Key words: Aluminium sulphate, gladiolus, gibberellic acid, sucrose, storage duration, quality parameters.