Postharvest GABA Application Effects on Some Biochemical Characteristics of Anthurium Cut Flowers under Cold Storage Conditions

Chilling damage to anthurium cut flowers exposed to the temperature of under 15°C impairs their vase life, quality and marketability. In the present experiment, the effect of GABA postharvest treatment (0, 1 and 5 mM) was studied on vase life, total soluble solid (TSS), H2O2 content, proline content, spathe browning, catalase, and superoxide dismutase activity of Anthurium andraeanum Sirion during 10 days of storage at 10°C and 5°C. The results revealed that 1 mM GABA treatment at 10°C was the treatment of choice with respect to vase life. GABA treatment had no special effect on reducing the browning incidence. GABA at 5 mM increased SOD activity. Furthermore, GABA reduced H2O2 levels compared to untreated control flowers. Moreover, under chilling stress, proline was the highest in GABA-treated flowers. Flowers treated with 1 mM GABA held higher catalase activity. The highest TSS belonged to 5 mM GABA under 5°C.