Effect of nano calcium, calcium chloride, and salicylic acid on bent neck in cut roses

ABSTRACT

Bent neck can decrease the vase life of Rosa hybrida L. cv. “Black Magic” cut flowers. This study evaluated the efficacy of calcium nanoparticles, calcium chloride, and salicylic acid in delaying bent neck in cut roses. The cut flowers were placed in pulsing solutions containing 3 and 5 mM CaNPs or 2% and 4% CaCl₂ for 16 hours, then either transferred to a solution containing 20 g L₋₁ sucrose with 200 mg L₋₁ 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate or placed in holding solutions containing sucrose at 20 g L₋₁ with 1 and 2 mM of SA. Treatments with 2 mM SA and 5 mM CaNPs significantly delayed bent neck, increased fresh weight, and prolonged vase life. Both treatments also enhanced water uptake, water balance, and flower diameter compared to the control and other treatments. In addition, 2 mM SA significantly maintained anthocyanin content until day 11, while 5 mM CaNPs maintained chlorophyll content until day 11. Moreover, cell wall degradation enzyme activities (CEL, PG, PE, and XYL) were inhibited by both the 2 mM SA and 5 mM CaNPs treatments, which resulted in less bending. Also, our findings revealed that pulsing cut Rosa flowers in CaCl₂ are beneficial in delaying bending and extending longevity.            

Abbreviation: CaNPs: Calcium Nanoparticles; ROS: Reactive oxygen species; SA: Salicylic acidTEM: Transmission electron microscopy; CEL: Cellulase; PG: Polygalacturonase; PE: Pectinase; XYL: Xylanase

KEYWORDS:

• Bent neck
• enzyme activity
• nano calcium
• salicylic acid
• Rosa

Acknowledgments

Thanks and assessment to the Horticulture research institute center, Agricultural Research Center and the Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University for their support in providing all the equipment and the laboratory needed to conduct this research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).