Extending the Vase Life of Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum Mariachii. cv. blue) with Different Preservatives

Combinations of glutamine, succinic acid, Salicylic acid and citric acid were used as preservative mixture for cut Lisianthus and their effect on regulation of senescence was examined. In this study, the recorded traits included vase life, total chlorophyll content (SPAD reading), anthocyanin leakage, malondialdehyde content and ACC-oxidase activity. The vase were placed in chambers at 19C, relative humidity about 70% and 14 h photoperiod that was maintained using fluorescent lamps (light intensity of 15 mol m-2 sec-1) at the top of the corolla. The results showed that glutamine, succinic acid and Salicylic acid treatments increased the vase life and decrease the percentage of wilting compared to the control. The vase solution containing 3 mM glutamine and 4 mM succinic acid with 2 mM salicylic acid significantly increased vase life compared to the control, in addition, the malondialdehyde accumulation and ACC-Oxidase activity reduced in the same solution while membrane stability was improved. Results suggest that glutamine, succinic acid and Salicylic acid increases vase life by affecting many of the age-related changes associated with Lisianthus petal senescence.