Characteristics of postharvest quality of chrysanthemum cut flowers under pretreatment with nitrogenous compounds

This study was done using three nitrogenous compounds to evaluate their effects on postharvest characteristics of chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum indicum) cut flowers. The study consisted of three separate and parallel experiments, in which ammonium sulfate, calcium nitrate and potassium nitrate were used in different concentrations of zero, 50, 100, 200 and 500 mg dm ‒3 N for pretreatment of stems for 6 hour before transferring to holding d-water solution. The results showed that petal ion leakage and leaf SPAD values were increased by increasing ammonium sulfate, but not calcium or potassium nitrate. Petal carotenoids were increased by pretreatment of ammonium sulfate and potassium nitrate. There was constant increase in water uptake by increasing the levels of calcium nitrate and potassium nitrate, while ammonium sulfate at high concentrations (200 and 500 mg dm ‒3 N) resulted in significant less water uptake compared to control. Ammonium sulfate in 50 and 100 mg dm ‒3 increased shelf life of pretreated stems, but higher concentrations significantly reduced cut flowers shelf life. Increasing concentrations of calcium nitrate and particularly potassium nitrate have led to prolongation of flower shelf life to 12 days compared to 6 days of control. The results indicate that pretreatment of chrysanthemum cut flowers with ammonium sulfate in rather low concentrations or with moderate to high concentrations of calcium nitrate or potassium nitrate can significantly improve shelf life and postharvest flower qualities.