Effect of nitric oxide and production location on vase life of cut Eucomis 'Sparkling Burgundy' flowers

The available range of cut flowers is constantly supplemented with new species and cultivars, and thus recommendations for their vase life are required. Eucomis 'Sparkling Burgundy' is an ornamental bulbous plant with huge potential on the cut flower market. This research investigated the effect of different concentrations of sodium nitroprusside (SNP, a donor of NO) on postharvest quality of cut Eucomis 'Sparkling Burgundy'. Plants grown in the two different production locations (field, plastic tunnel). Cut stems were kept in solution containing 0.1 µmol, 100 µmol and 1mmol SNP. The average vase life of Eucomis 'Sparkling Burgundy' flowers over all treatments was 44.5 days. Flowers held in 100 µmol SNP had longer vase live, greater fresh weight and solution uptake than the control. Flowers harvested from the plastic tunnel had increased fresh weight, stem length and solution uptake than those from the field.