Screening of cultivars of cut tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) flower for longer vase life on the basis of membrane stability index

This study was conducted to screen out the cultivars of cut tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) flowers for longer vase life on the basis of membrane stability index (MSI). Five cultivars of tuberose namely, Vaibhav, Phule Rajani, Prajwal, Shringar and Mexican Single were taken for screening. Leakage of ions from the cut spikes was measured over five arbitrarily divided stages of the flower development in tuberose. Stage 1, when tepals start reflexing during bud opening; Stage 2, when half bloom; Stage 3, whenfull bloom; Stage 4, when beginning of wilting and Stage 5, when complete wilting. There were declining trend in MSI value irrespective of whether they are Single type or Double type cultivars. There was non significant difference in membrane stability index during their first and second stage offlowers development, but showed significant difference at later stages in flowers. Cultivar Vaibhav had highest MSI value throughout the developmental stages of flower as compare to other cultivars used in the experiment. It signified that leakage of ions through membrane is significantly low. However, cv. Mexican Single showed comparatively lower value of MSI at Stage five which indicate that leakage of ions through membrane is significantly high. There was non significant difference among the cultivars Phule Rajini, Prajwal and Shringar.