Study on the effect of aluminum sulfate treatment on postharvest life of the cut rose 'Boeing' (Rosa hybrida cv. Boeing).

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of aluminum sulfate on postharvest life of a cut rose cultivar (Rosa hybrida ’ Boeing’).Flower stems were placed in aluminum sulfate solutions(0, 150 mgl -1 , 300 mgl -1 , 150 mgl -1 +sucrose 3%, 300 mgl -1 +sucrose 3%) until the end of vase life as a standard treatment and distilled water was used as control treatment. Aluminum sulfate treatment (150 and 300 mgl -1 ) extended the vase life of flowers from 9 days (control) to 12 and 12.3 days respectively. Aluminum sulfate (150 and 300 mgl -1 ) application resulted in a significant solution uptake until the end of the vase life. At last measurement the relative fresh weight of flowers treated with 150 and 300 mgl -1 aluminum sulfate showed significant higher values than the other levels of treatment due to more water uptake. Aluminum sulfate (150 and 300 mgl -1 ) had positive effect on flower bud opening and increased flower diameter compared to control.