ISHS Acta Horticulturae 181: III International Symposium on Postharvest Physiology of Ornamentals
EVALUATION OF THE ROLE OF VASE MICROORGANISMS IN THE POSTHARVEST LIFE OF CUT FLOWERS |
| Authors: | D. Zagory, M.S. Reid |
| Abstract:
Three of twenty-five microorganisms isolated from carnation vase solutions reduced carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L. cv. Improved White Sim) vase life when added individually to vase solutions. Some of these same microorganisms reduced the vase life of rose (Rosa hybrida cv. Cara Mia) and chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum x morifolium Ramat. cv. May Shoesmith). Neither differences in initial microbial inoculum nor change in vase solution pH were correlated with vase life of carnations. Repeated cutting of the stem base did not ameliorate the effects of the microorganisms. Silver thiosulfate pretreatment of cut carnations delayed the effects of an ethylene producing bacterium but not of a non-ethylene producing bacterium. Using isogenic bacterial lines produced through transposon mutagenesis, we are testing hypotheses to explain the activity of these bacteria against cut flowers. | |
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