Abstract. Conditioning of cut flowers of Eustoma grandiflorum ‘Mariachi Grande White F₁’ in water gibberellic acid solutions extended their storage life by 23.2% and 19.2%, respectively. Storage life of flowers also increased as a result of application of a standard medium containing 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate and sucrose during storage. Flowers conditioned in a solution of gibberellic acid at a concentration of 50 mg·dm^-3 and stored in a water solution of 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate with sucrose turned out to have the longest storage life. The biggest weight losses were recorded for flowers, which had the longest storage lives after cutting, i.e. those conditioned in a gibberellic acid solution at a concentration of 50 mg·dm^-3 and stored in an 8 HQS solution with sucrose.

The effect of gibberelic acid on the post-harvest flowers longevity of Eustoma grandiflorum (Raf.) Shinners
‘Mariachi Grande White F₁’

Summary

The aim of the experiment was to determine the effect of a 24-h conditioning in a water solution of gibberellic acid on the vase life of cut inflorescences of prairie gentian (Eustoma grandiflorum (Raf.) Shinners, syn. Lisianthus russelianus Hook.) ‘Mariachi Grande White F₁’.

Unconditioned flower stems were placed in distilled water or solutions of 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate at a concentration of 200 mg·dm^-3 with a 2% addition of sucrose, while the others were conditioned for 24 h in a coolhouse at a temperature of 10⁰C, with gibberellic acid water solution at a concentrations of 50 and 150 mg·dm^-3.

After conditioning flowers were stored in distilled water and water solutions of 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate at a concentration of 200 mg·dm^-3 with 2% sucrose.

Conditioning of cut flowers of ‘Mariachi Grande White F₁’ in gibberellic acid water solutions extended their storage life by 23.2% and 19.2%, respectively. Storage life of flowers also increased as a result of application of a standard medium containing 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate and sucrose storage. Flowers conditioned in a solution of gibberellic acid at a concentration of 50 mg·dm^-3 and stored in a water solution of 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate with sucrose turned out to have the longest storage life. The biggest weight losses were recorded for flowers, which had the longest storage lives after cutting, i.e. those conditioned in a gibberellic acid solution at a concentration of 50 mg·dm^-3 and stored in an 8 HQS solution with sucrose.