Effects of postharvest treatments on quality and vase life of cut rose (Rosa hybirida)

Rose (Rosa hybrida) is among the most important species sold as cut flower. Its vase life is quite short and ranges from 6 to 10 days, depending on postharvest conditions. Flower and leaf senescence are the main responsible for quality losses and strongly affects the marketability of this ornamental item. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of different postharvest treatments on the quality and on the vase life of cut-rose flowers. Cut roses (flowers and leaves) were treated for 24 h with different classes of compounds including chemical elicitors (salicylic acid - SA, benzothiodiazole - BTH, methyl jasmonate - MJ), signal molecules (nitric oxide, hydrogen peroxide) and ethylene-suppressor (selenium). During vase life, gas exchanges, chlorophyll contend and chlorophyll a fluorescence were monitored non-destructively in leaves. Samples were collected at harvest (T0) and after 7 (T7) and 10 (T10) days of vase life at 25 °C and destructive analyses (sugars, phenolic compounds) were conducted. Results showed that the treatments with BTH and SA increased chlorophyll content in leaves after 4 days. Chlorophyll a fluorescence data showed that BTH was able to preserve leaf functionality and delay senescence in cut roses after 7 days of vase life.