Effect of stage of harvest and holding solutions on vase life of cut spikes of gladiolus (Gladiolus × hybridus Hort.)

The present investigation was carried out to find out suitable harvest stage of spike and holding solution to improve post harvest quality of gladiolus cut spikes in factorial CRD with eleven level of holding solution and two harvest stages-I, II along with in combination. Holding solution treatment T₄-Sucrose-4% + Al₂ (SO₄) 3.16 H₂O @300 ppm showed significant influence and was found best for earliest days to basal florets opening (1.70 days), floret diameter (8.57 cm), floret length (8.92 cm), florets opened at a time (6.02), total number of florets opened spike⁻¹ (12.91), percent florets opening (91.68), opened florets longevity (4.15 days), total water absorbed per spike⁻¹ (51.25 ml) and vase life at 50% floret wilting stage (5.97 days) and vase life 100% floret wilting stage (13.96 days), respectively. Similarly, the harvesting stage-II (when 4–5 florets show colour) was found better for days to basal floret opening (1.20 days), floret diameter (8.56 cm), length (8.61cm), florets opened at a time (5.94), total number of florets opened spike⁻¹ (11.90), percent florets opening (88.36), opened florets longevity (3.32 days) except for total water absorbed spike⁻¹ (46.44 ml) and vase life at 50% (5.97 days) and 100% floret wilting stage (13.96 days) which were found to be non-significant respectively. Whereas treatment T₄-Sucrose-4% + Al₂ (SO₄)₃.16 H₂O @ 300 ppm resulted in highest net return Rs. 6076 with B: C 1.55 as compared to distilled water. It is concluded that S₂T₄ interaction level-Sucrose + Al₂ (SO₄)₃.16 H₂O @300 ppm × harvest stage-II (when 4–5 florets show colour) of harvest of the cut spike found to be effective interaction for vase life and economic parameters in gladiolus.