Influence of storage environment, 8- HQC and sucrose on post harvest quality of ‘First Red’ cut rose

Cut roses cv. First Red were stored at ambient conditions (20 ± 5⁰C, 40–70% relative humidity) and in cool chamber (15 ± 2°C, 90–95% relative humidity) in holding solutions containing distilled water, HQC and sucrose + HQC for a period of 4 days. Angle of neck bending was significantly reduced in high humidity storage with increased flower diameter and marketability. The high humidity cool chamber also showed better retention of petal anthocyanin with low respiration and ethylene evolution by the whole stalk. The senescence of flowers was rapid at ambient with high rate of ion leakage from petals and high respiration rates at ambient. Addition of sucrose and HQC in holding solution further helped in maintaining the overall quality of cut flowers in high humidity storage condition.