Standardization of holding solution to enhance vase life and postharvest quality of cut stem of bird of paradise, Strelitzia reginae Ait

Bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae Ait) is one of the most important cut flower crops due to its beautiful appearance. Postharvest treatments of cut stem for colour retention, excellent keeping quality and effective transportation are in vogue to fetch remunerative return. Therefore laboratory experiments were conducted at the Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh during 2012–13 to assess the affect of different holding treatments on postharvest quality parameters and vase life of cut stem in bird of paradise. The experiment was laid out in completely randomize block design having thirteen holding treatment combinations. Observations were recorded on number of florets opened/stem in vase, vase life (days), amount of pulsing solution consumed (ml/stem), amount of vase solution consumed (ml/stem), reducing sugar content, non-reducing sugar content and per cent weight loss. Significant differences with respect to holding treatment were observed for all the characters under study. Holding treatment of cut stems of bird of paradise comprising of 2 per cent sucrose + 300 ppmAl₂(SO₄)₃ was found to be the best for increasing the number of florets opened/stem, maximum vase life, holding and vase solution consumption, reducing and nonreducing sugar contents and minimum per cent loss in weight.