Effects of pulsing and holding solutions on postharvest keeping quality of cut daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus L.)

Effects of different pulsing treatments and holding solutions were assessed on the vase life and flower quality of cut daffodils cvs. Trumpet, Texas Semi-double and Golden Harvest. The maximum vase life (14.9 days) was recorded with 16 h pulsing with 4% Sucrose followed by 4% Sucrose + Al₂SO₄ (300 pm). The amount of water absorbed per cut stem was maximum (31.56 ml) with 4% Sucrose. However, the cut daffodils pulsed with 2 mM Silver Thiosulfate (STS) absorbed minimum water (17.22 ml) per cut stem. Among the three tested cultivars, the maximum vase life was recorded in Texas Semi-double (16.0 days) followed by Trumpet (15.67 days) with 16 h pulsing with 4 percent sucrose. Pulsing the cut daffodils with 2 mM STS (either alone or in combination with 4 percent sucrose), adversely affected the bud opening and vase life in all the cultivars. Stem breaking was observed in all the STS pulsed cut flowers. Among different holding solutions, 2% Sucrose + Citric Acid (300 ppm) was found to be most effective for enhancing the vase life (15.26 days) of cut daffodils and improving the water relations of the cut stems. Among the three cultivars, the maximum vase life was recorded in Golden Harvest (17.00 days) with 2% Sucrose + Citric Acid (300 ppm) followed by Texas Semi-double (15.67 days) with Citric Acid (300 ppm). As with pulsing treatment, addition of STS (50 ppm) in the holding solution had negative impact on bud opening, vase life and water relations of cut daffodils.