Effects of Amino Oxyacetic Acid (AOA) and Sucrose on the Longevity of Bougainvillea Flower Bract

Bougainvillea is a popular ornamental plant in the tropics and sub-tropics of the world. It bursts forth with colorful flowers for the year round if it is planted in the adaptive climate. The ornamental importance of Bougainvillea bract is for the imparting and increasing color effect in the garden. Increasing plantation and beautification of bougainvillea have a scope in drier region and its use in vacant areas as road side plantation, beautification of traffic islands and wide road dividers for its own colorful environment. The study was carried out to investigate the effects of Amino Oxyacetic Acid (AOA) and sucrose on the vase life and senescence of bougainvillea bract. The treatments were used as water control, AOA and sucrose at different concentrations. The decreasing trend of fresh weight was found on the 3rd day and again increased on the 5th day in the case of all treated flowers. The lowest water uptake percentage was found in 4% sucrose and 50 ppm AOA concentration. However, senescence was delayed for 3 days in AOA 50 ppm and 4% sucrose concentration. The vase life of both AOA 50 ppm and 4% sucrose concentration treated-flowers were much longer (4 days) than control compared to the all concentration of sucrose and AOA. The results showed that the best treatment for vase life and delay senescence was AOA 50 ppm and 4% sucrose concentration.