Effect of Vase Solution on Value Addition and Vase-life of Tinted Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) cv. Prajwal

Abstract

Flower craft is one of the most flourish and dynamic enterprises in today’s world. Tinting or artificial colouring of tuberose may be a potential value addition venture. Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) is a popular cut flower having white coloured fragrant blooms. Postharvest losses in many cut are estimated to be as high as 40% in the absence of floral preservatives. Blockage of vascular bundles due to microorganism proliferation is one of the reasons for cut flower postharvest losses. Therefore in this experiment effect of different biocides on kind and proliferation of microbes in vasesolution of tinted tuberose were studied. In present experiment five different food dyes were used as tinting agent likes Blue, Apple green, Lemon yellow, Orange red and Rose pink at a concentration of 1%. Therefore an inspection was carried out to study theeffect of different biocides (Calcium hypochlorite solution of 750 ppm, Sodium hypochlorite solution of 750 ppm, Benzyl adenine 450 ppm and Naphthalene acetic acid 250 ppm) on value addition and vase-life of tinted tuberose cv.Prajwal. In which flowers remained maximum fresh with higher vase-life in Lemon yellow followed by Rose pink and Apple green. Results suggest thatamong all chemicals Calcium hypochlorite (750 ppm) was best followed by Sodium hypochlorite (750 ppm), Benzyl adenine (450 ppm) and Naphthalene acetic acid (250 ppm).