J. Env. Bio-Sci., 2016: Vol.

30 (1):29-31
(29) ISSN 0973-6913 (Print), ISSN 0976-3384 (On Line)

POTENTIAL OF AZADIRACHTIN SUPPLEMENTS TO VASE SOLUTION AS POST -

HARVEST LONGEVITY ENHANCER IN CUT ROSE CV. GRAND GALA
Yachna Gupta-1, Pooja Kaintura-1 and Manish Kapoor-2
1-
Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, G.B.Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar-263145,
2-
Department of Botany, Punjabi University, Patiala-147002 Punjab INDIA
[Corresponding Author E-mail2: jdmanishkapoor@yahoo.com]

Received: 29-12-2015 Revised: 29-03-2016 Accepted: 11-05-2016

The present investigation was carried out on cut rose cv. Grand Gala to study the potential of azadirachtin a biocide, supplemented
with other chemicals and their combinations as enhancer of vase life and keeping quality of cut rose. The experiment was laid out
with sixteen treatments comprising of various combination of azadirachtin, 8-HQC, STS, citric acid, BA and sucrose along with
distilled water as control, replicated thrice under Completely Randomized Design. Uniform roses at one petal unfurl stage were cut
and pre-cooled at 4°C before kept in holding solutions, to study their post-harvest behavior, the results revealed that azadirachtin
(0.25 ppm) supplemented with citric acid (200 ppm) and sucrose (2%) maintained better water relations in terms of water uptake,
water loss, water balance and loss in fresh weight which resulted in maximum vase life as compared to control. Decreased
microbial count in vase solution resulted in full opening of the bloom and bent neck free flowers.

All cut flowers including roses need to be of very high quality,
but flowers grown in open fields are subjected to various biotic
and abiotic stresses, due to which their quality deteriorates
because of the blemishes and losses due to insect pest and
diseases. Cut flowers can be made to withstand post harvest
stressful conditions by treating them with suitable pulsing and
holding solutions1. Preservative solutions ensure ample supply
of water and metabolites in addition to reserve food materials
in stems to leaves and petals.
Water relations play an important role in the post-harvest
physiology of cut flowers. Rapid proliferation of microorganisms
in vase water results in xylem blockage, water stress and a
subsequent reduction in cut flower longevity. Many studies
have correlated an increase in bacterial counts in vase water
with decreased longevity. Use of anti microbial compounds at
different concentrations in vase solution decreases microbial
activity and increases the vase life of cut flowers. The use of
synthetic biocides has increased consumer concern and their
use is becoming restrictive due to carcinogenic effects, residual
toxicity problems, environmental pollution, occurrence of
microbial résistance and high inputs 2-4. There are many
biocides which are natural, economical and environment friendly
and can have good potential as a main component in
preservative solution viz. azadirachtin extracted from neem
(Azadirachta indica Juss), a large tree of India, has been used
for centuries in Asia as insecticides and fungicides in popular
medicine5 and for its anti-microbial activity6. To preserve the
best quality of cut flower after harvest and to make them
resistant to fluctuations in environment conditions, treatments
like conditioning or hardening, impregnation, pulsing, loading,
bud opening, holding treatment and storage are recommended.
These may be applied to the flowers during the marketing
chain from growers to wholesalers, retail florists and final
consumers. Keeping in view the above facts, the present
investigation was laid out to study the potential of azadirachtin
as a biocide in vase solution for extending the vase life of cut
rose cv. Grand Gala.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Experiment was executed on cut rose cv. Grand Gala at Model
Floriculture Centre, Pantnagar during March, 2010-11. Rose
cv. Grand Gala was grown in greenhouse following the standard
package of practices prescribed. The cut stems were harvested
at a stage when calyx was fully reflexed and outer most petals
were unfurled. After harvesting, the cut stems were pre cooled
at 4oC for an hour and then cut to uniform length of 45 cm and
stripped off all leaves except upper two leaflet leaves. Fresh
weight of individual flowers was recorded and the cut stems
were then kept in holding solutions containing combination of
azadirachtin, 8-HQC, STS, citric acid, BA, sucrose and distilled
water used as control, replicated thrice under Completely
Randomized Design with three stems of cut flower per
replication. In total experiment consisted of sixteen treatments

NAAS Rating (2016)-4.20

 AZADIRACHTIN SUPPLEMENTS TO VASE SOLUTION (30)

viz. T1-2.5 ppm BA + sucrose (2%), T2-5 ppm BA + sucrose by increasing the vase life or by reducing disease severity.
(2%), T3-50 ppm 8-HQC + sucrose(2%), T4-100 ppm 8-HQC Azadirachtin, at a low concentration along with sucrose and
+ sucrose (2%), T5-50 ppm STS + sucrose (2%), T6-100 ppm citric acid proved to be beneficial in improving the economical
STS + sucrose (2%), T7-0.25 ppm Azadirachtin + sucrose characters in the above mentioned treatment.
(2%), T8-0.5 ppm Azadirachtin + sucrose (2%), T9-1 ppm
Amongst the water relations (Table-1), increase in total water
Azadirachtin + sucrose (2%), T10-0.25 ppm Azadirachtin +
uptake and gain in fresh weight on third day after treatment
sucrose (2%) + 200 ppm citric acid, T11-0.5 ppm Azadirachtin
resulted from the same treatment or it was at par with other
+ sucrose (2%) + 200 ppm citric acid, T12-1 ppm Azadirachtin
chemical treatments. Better water conductance through stem
+ sucrose (2%) + 200 ppm citric acid, T13-0.25 ppm
due to citric acid and germicidal properties of azadirachtin in
Azadirachtin + 2% sucrose (2%) + 2.5 ppm BA, T14-0.5 ppm
addition to a carbohydrate source, sucrose, helped in maximum
Azadirachtin + sucrose (2%) + 2.5 ppm BA, T15-1 ppm
water uptake by the flower which resulted in gain in fresh
Azadirachtin + sucrose (2%) + 2.5 ppm BA and T16-Distilled
weight. The translocated sugars accumulate in the flowers,
water (control). At fixed times the weight of each cylinder plus
increasing their osmotic concentration and recuperating their
solution with and without the flower was determined. The
ability to absorb water and maintain their turgidity1. The fresh
difference between the consecutive measurements of the
weight at senescence also decreased profoundly and varied
cylinder plus solution (without the flower) represents the water
significantly among the treatments. Fresh weight generally
uptake. W hile the difference between consecutive
increased in first few days thereafter it decreased gradually
measurements of cylinder + solution + flower represents the
till senescence11. Azadirachtin and citric acid play vital role in
transpiration loss of water. Cotton plugs were used to avoid
checking microbial growth in holding solution thereby
evaporation losses. Bluish or darkening of petals was
decreasing the loss in fresh weight of flower. The transpiration
considered as the end of the vase life of the flower. Vase life
loss was also significantly influenced by the various holding
was terminated upon 1/3 rd wilting of petals. During the
solutions and followed the same pattern as that of water
experiment the maximum temperature was 25.2oC, while
uptake. Although the water uptake and loss were higher in
minimum was 17.8oC and relative humidity was 68.5%. The
chemical treatments, the water loss and uptake ratio, an
experiment was repeated twice and the mean values were
indicator of water balance were significantly lowered by all
subjected to statistical analysis.
the concentrations of chemicals when compared with the
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION control. The water balance is a major factor influencing the
quality and longevity of cut flowers. Water loss and water
Cut rose flowers held in solution containing 0.25 ppm
uptake ratio were quite lower at all the treatments than in
azadirachtin + 2 per cent sucrose + 200 ppm citric acid was
case of control thereby maximizing the vase life. Similar
effective in increasing the economical character like flower
observations were reported in rose cv. First Red12. It is well
size, vase life and appearance as compared to the control.
known fact that more the water uptake, greater will be the
Use of Sucrose, a respiratory substrate, increases the pool
flower diameter and vase life, thereby, increasing the score of
of dry matter, lowers the osmotic potential of petals 7, thus
appearance. It appears that chemicals used for enhancing
promotes respiration and delays the autocatalytic rise in
vase life improved the water blockage and ultimately changed
ethylene production thereby extends the longevity. On the
the fresh weight of flowers. Uninterrupted water supply is major
other hand citric acid is considered to maintain the water
requirement for the increased vase life13.
balance and to reduce the bacterial proliferation in the vase
solution, thus avoiding the obstruction of the xylem vessels. Increasing vase life is the key issue in the post-harvest
When combined with other chemicals, citric acid gave the management of cut flowers. Azadirachtin supplemented with
best results in terms of longevity in Rose cv. Arjun8. Similar sucrose and citric acid exhibited positive effect in delaying
findings were reported in Chrysanthemum9 and in Rose10. It is senescence in cut roses by increasing the water uptake and
possible that combining sucrose with citric acid or other improving the water balance, leading to increased fresh weight
substances may produce additive or synergistic effects, either and vase life. Though many other biocides are found to be
(31) GUPTA, KAINTUR AND KAPOOR

Table-1. Effect of various holding solutions on Post harvest life of cut rose cv. Grand Gala.

beneficial in extending vase life of cut rose, but use of Rep., 21:531.
azadirachtin as natural biocide in preservative solution can 6. Singh, U.P., Singh, H.B. and Singh, R.B. (1980). Mycologia, 72:
hold good potential. 1077.
7. Halevy, A.H. and Mayak, S. (1979). Horti Rev, 1: 204.
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