Flower longevity and quality attributes of gerbera cut flower affected by different nutrient solutions

Abstract

Nutrition is the cornerstone of plant production. Here, efforts have been made to study the effect of different nutrient solutions from the Netherlands floriculture companies (S1; Schreurs, S2: Florist, and S3: Research Station for Floriculture and Greenhouse Vegetables(RSFGV) on two gerbera cultivars (‘Stanza’ and ‘Double Dutch’). Total chlorophyll index (SPAD), flower harvest per plant, flower stem height, disk diameter, total carbohydrate, lignin, and cell membrane stability were significantly affected by treatments. The highest number of cut flowers was harvested in RSFGV solution which was about 24% and 50% more than Florist and Schreurs solutions, respectively. Schreurs’s solution showed the best impact on cell membrane stability, total carbohydrate, and lignin production. Flowers stem height, disk diameter, and hemi-cellulose content were significantly increased by RSFGV solution. The cultivar ‘Double Dutch’ showed the highest cell membrane stability, total carbohydrate, hemi-cellulose, lignin, and vase life. Flower stem height was highest in the cultivar ‘Stanza’. The interaction of nutrient solution and cultivar affected the studied parameters significantly, and the highest vase life was obtained in the cultivar ‘Double Dutch’ fertigated with Schreurs solution (11.4 d). Results indicated that Schreurs and RSFGV solutions could be the proper solutions for producing high-quality cut gerberas commercially.