ISHS Acta Horticulturae 683: V International Symposium on New Floricultural Crops
INFLUENCE OF BENZYLADENINE ON LONGEVITY OF HELICONIA LATISPATHA BENTH. |
| Authors: | P.J. de Moraes, F.L. Finger, J.G. Barbosa, P.R. Cecon, L.P. Cesa |
| Keywords: | Stage of development, open bracts, cut flower. |
| Abstract:
Heliconia species have great potential to be used as cut flower due to their beauty, rusticity and in general good postharvest longevity, however premature wilting of the bracts and sepals, and failure of flower opening may occur. Furthermore, there are only a limited number of recommendations, as Heliconia latispatha should be handled at and after harvesting. The goal of this work was to exanimate the influence of benzyladenine on vase life of heliconia inflorescences harvested at two different stages of development. The inflorescences were sprayed with 0, 100, 200 and 300 mg/L benzyladenine harvested at stage showing one to two fully opened bracts (stage 1) and from three to four fully opened bracts (stage 2). The experiment was arranged in a random block design comprising nine stalks per treatment. The growth regulator was sprayed twice until the stalks were completely wet applied within the first hour after harvest. The average of opened bracts throughout vase life was not affected by the benzyladenine treatment, which were 2.5 for the stage 1 and 4.2 open bracts for the stage 2. Treatment with benzyladenine extended the longevity compared to control flowers in both stages of development. A positive correlation was observed between benzyladenine concentration and increase in the vase life. Spraying the stalks with 300 mg/L benzyladenine increased the longevity by at least 1.85-fold compared to the untreated flowers. | |
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