Effects of Some Germicides, Hormones and Sugars on Longevity and Keeping Quality of Tuberoses (Polianthes Tuberosa L)

Among the germicidal agents both dettol and savlon were effective in promoting the development of stage-II buds to stage-Ill (at 0.1 per cent) and stage-Ill to stage-IV (at 0.1 and 0.7 per cent). Among the hormones both GA₃ and Bzi were effective in this respect at both concentrations and at all stages of buds. The sugars used also produced similar effects. Abscission was delayed by treatment with lower concentration of dettol at stage-I and both concentrations of HQ at stage-I and stage-II buds. Bzi and sugars were most effective indel aying abscission of all the the stages of buds except stage-IV. Lower concentrations of dettol and savlon and both concentrations of HQ, Bzi and sugars enhanced the vase-life of stage-I buds. Lower concentrations of savlon and both concentrations of HQ, Bzi and sugars enhanced the vase-life of stage-II buds. Only the sugars were effective in promoting the vase-life of flowers of advanced stages, the effect was maximum with sucrose. Bzi (or GA₃) in combination with SADH, AA, glucose and dettol (or HQ) significantly improved the opening of flowers and enhanced the vase-life.