Improvement of Cut Rose cv. ‘Dolce Vita’ Vase Life by Preharvest Foliar Application of Calcium Chloride and Salicylic Acid

Rosa hybrida L. is an important commercial cut flower. Salicylic acid (SA) and calcium chloride (CaCl2) act as an endogenous signal molecule responsible for growth parameters in plants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of pre-harvest SA and CaCl2 treatments in extending the vase life of cut rose flowers. Therefore, a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with SA (0, 150, 300 and 450 mg L-1) and CaCl2 (0, 0.75, 1.5 and 2.25%) with 4 replicates and 2 samples (individual flowers) in each replicate, was conducted. Changes in growth, macronutrient concentration, chlorophyll content, leaf relative water content (LRWC), flower quality, vase life and membrane stability index were investigated in Rosa hybrida cv. ‘Dolce Vita’. Exogenously applied SA and CaCl2 increased plant growth (such as shoot and flower bud fresh and dry weights and stem length). SA and CaCl2 foliar application also increased macronutrient concentration (N, K, Ca and Mg), chlorophyll content, LRWC, flower quality and vase life; however membrane stability index was decreased with increasing levels of SA and CaCl2. These results suggest that SA and CaCl2 could be used as potential growth promoters to improve postharvest life of roses. According to the results of this experiment, SA and CaCl2 as natural, cheap, safe and biodegradable compounds are suitable alternatives for conventional chemical treatments in order to prolong vase life of cut rose flowers. Commercialization of these compounds for optimum formulations needs further experiments.