Effects of nanosilver and calcium chloride on cut gerbera (Gerbera Jamesonii Cv. 'Carambole') flowers
Nafiseh Geshnizjany, Asghar Ramezanian, Morteza Khosh-Khui
Abstracts of 7th International Postharvest Symposium 2012 (IPS2012). 25-29 June, 2012. Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 238 pages.
2012
บทคัดย่อ
Nanosilvers which are very fine particles of silver are used in many areas. One of the most important properties of these particles is their antibacterial properties and can be used in the agricultural industry. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects ofnanosilver, calcium chloride and their combination on gerbera 'Carambole' flowers. The experiment consisted of six treatments, 5 mgllit nanosilver, 1% calcium chloride, 2% calcium chloride, 5 mg/lit nanosilver + 1 % calcium chloride, 5 mg/lit nanosilver + 2% calcium chloride and control treatment. Overall results showed that foliar application of CaCl2 and using nanosilver in vase solution and also their combination could significantly increase gerbera flowers vase life. The longest postharvest life of flowers was obtained from 5 mg/lit nanosilver and 5mg/lit nanosilver + 1 % calcium chloride treatments. Foliar application of 2% CaCl2 prevented flowers wilting but petals showed signs of necrosis. Also in comparison with other treatments, relative solution uptake was very low in control treatment. The highest relative solution uptake were observed in 5 mg/lit nanosilver, 5 mg/lit nanosilver + 1% CaCl2 and 5 mg/lit nanosilver + 2% CaCl2 treatments. Additionally application of nanosilver and CaCl2 increased relative fresh weight so that the highest rate were obtained in 5 mg/lit nanosilver, 5 mg/lit nanosilver + 1% CaCl2 and 5 mgllit nanosilver +2% CaCl2, respectively. Application of CaCl2 could increase postharvest life, relative solution uptake and relative fresh weight of flowers but this increase was less than 5 mg/lit nanosilver, 5 mgllit nanosilver + 1% CaCl2 and 5 mg/lit nanosilver +2% CaCl2 Also invitro cultivation and microscopic counting showed that growth of microorganisms at the end of flowering stems were largely restricted using nanosilver solely or in combination with CaCl2.