Estimation of metabolic activity of cut flowers during a study to enhance vase life of Cymbidium hybrid cut-flowers

In this study, the metabolic activity (MA) of orchid cut flowers was estimated by the modified alkali trap method for the first time, when an approach was made to increase the vase life of Cymbidium miniature hybrid and Cymbidium hybrid 'H. C. Aurora' cut flowers. Metabolic inhibitors like-systemic fungicides (Carbendazim and Metalaxyl) and darkness were used to increase the vase life of the cut flowers. Cut flowers kept with metabolic inhibitors had significantly higher relative fresh weight (RFW), rate of vase solution uptake (RVSU) and significantly lower MA compared to control, which consequently increased the vase life of the cut flowers. The vase life was maximum under Carbendazim + darkness treatment (C-200 + D), followed by Carbendazim (C-200)> Metalaxyl +Darkness (M-200 + D)> Metalaxyl (M-200)> Distilled water + Darkness (D)> Control, whereas the MA was maxi-mum under the Control treatment, followed by D > M-200 > M-200 + D > C-200 > C-200 + D treatments for both the cut flowers. The C-200 + D treatment increased the vase life by ~ 31 and 27% for Cymbidium miniature hybrid and Cymbidium hybrid 'H. C. Aurora', respectively, compared to the control treatment. It can be inferred that Carbenda-zim+ darkness treatment can increase the vase life of orchid cut flowers and the modified alkali trap method would be effective for estimation of MA of the cut flowers. (C) 2022 SAAB. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study estimated the metabolic activity of orchid cut flowers using the modified alkali trap method and investigated the effects of metabolic inhibitors and darkness on the vase life of the flowers. The results showed that the Carbendazim + darkness treatment significantly increased the vase life of the orchid cut flowers.