Pre-harvest silicon treatment improves quality of cut rose stems and maintains postharvest vase life

Abstract

Roses were treated with different doses of silicon (Si) (0, 200, 400 and 800 g L⁻¹) and different methods of Si application (soil or leaves) in order to determine the better form of pre-harvest Si supplementation. The quality of the stems at harvest was improved with Si supplementation. The highest dose of Si provided the best values of stem diameter and floral bud length, resulting in an increase of 0.5 mm and 1.9 mm in relation to control, respectively, when Si application was done directly on the soil. The weight and length of the stem, and the peduncle diameter were improved regardless of the dose and method of application. In the postharvest storage, the stems that received the Si treatment showed reduced fresh mass variation, greater relative content of water of the petals and leaves and greater index of opening floral buds. The peroxidase (POD) activity was also reduced with Si supplementation. On the last day of storage, stems treated with 800 g L⁻¹ Si directly in the soil had a POD activity of 2.5 U mg⁻¹ protein, whereas in control this value was 3.10 U mg⁻¹ protein. The petals with higher POD activity showed reduction in color parameters such. Therefore, the soil application of Si was more favorable in maintaining the quality of the stems during the storage. These results show that Si supplementation at 800 g L⁻¹ not only favors the quality of rose stems at harvest, but also provides a better conservation of their postharvest vase life.

Highlights

• Pre-harvest Si supplementation improves the biometrical parameters of cut rose.

• Si application at 800 g L⁻¹ provides a better quality for cut rose stems at harvest.

• Si treatment improves plant water status during postharvest storage.

• Soil application of Si favors the color maintenance of stems during storage.

Keywords:

• Peroxidase activity
• potassium silicate
• pre-harvest fertilization
• Rosa hybrida
• rose flower

Declaration of interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Foundation for Research Support of the State of São Paulo (FAPESP, process 2010/02976-7) for granting scholarship.