The efficiency of a preservative solution containing melatonin and GABA in expanding the quality of gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii cv. Terra Kalina) cut flower during longevity

Gerbera is the fifth-cut flower in the world, in terms of economic importance, but it has a short lifespan. One of the main problems with this flower, after harvest, is the decrease in the quality and longevity of the flowers, which is affected by the balance between water absorption and water loss. For this purpose, to investigate the effect of melatonin and GABA on increasing the longevity and quality of gerbera, a factorial experiment was conducted based on a completely randomized design with ۳ replications. Vase solutions containing ۰.۱ and ۰.۵ mM melatonin, ۱ and ۵ mM GABA solution, and distilled water were used as a control treatment. The results showed that as the vase life increased, the amount of electrolyte leakage, anthocyanin, malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, and peroxidase enzyme activity increased in all treatments except for the solutions containing ۰.۱ mM melatonin and ۱ mM GABA, while the amount of fresh weight, carbohydrate, flavonoid, total phenol and protein decreased. The maximum decrease in the relative water content of petals and carbohydrates, as well as the maximum increase in the amount of malondialdehyde and electrolyte leakage, was observed on the ۱۰th day of the ۵ mM GABA treatment. The flowers placed in the vase solution containing ۰.۱ mM melatonin contained the maximum amount of carbohydrate, protein, total phenol and the maximum activity of the peroxidase enzyme. In general, melatonin in both concentrations of ۰.۵ and ۰.۱ mM was the most appropriate treatment, which improved the quality of gerbera-cut flowers compared to the control and other treatments. Therefore, according to the hormonal and antioxidant nature of melatonin, it seems that the application of melatonin in low concentrations can be used as a promising technology at the commercial level in the flower industry.

Keywords:

Petal senescence , Water relations , Antioxidant protection , Vase life , پیری گلبرگ , روابط آبی , محافظت آنتی اکسیدانی , عمر گلجای