Effect of pulsing and holding solutions on keeping quality of cut flowers of rose (Rosa spp.)

Experiments were conducted to study the effect of pulsing as well as holding solutions for enhancing keeping quality of cut rose (Rosa spp.) stems in cv. Queen Elizabeth. Among different chemicals tested, pulsing with Al₂(SO₄)₃ 16H₂O (300 ppm) + sucrose (3%) was found to be the most effective treatment for improving final stage of bud opening (4.00), flower diameter (9.38 cm), per cent increase in bud size (276.31), vase-life (9.66 d) and volume of solution absorbed/stem (54.11 ml). In case of holding solutions, treatment with 1.5% sucrose + 300 pp m Al₂(SO₄)₃ 16H₂O was found to be the best treatment for improving final stage of bud opening (4.00), flower diameter (10.15 cm), per cent increase in bud size (288.47), vase llfe (8.46 d) and volume of solution absorbed/stem (49.66 ml).