The effects of nanosilver application on the efficacies of different preservatives during the postharvest life gerbera cut flowers

ABSTRACT:The present research was conducted to estimate the possible effect of nanosilver on the efficacies of salicylic acid (SA) and benzyladenin (BA) as preservatives during the postharvest life of gerbera cut flowers. The gerbera cut flowers,Gerbera jamesonii Dune, were pulse treated with 4 levels of SA (0, 50, 100 and 200mgL-1) or BA (0, 50, 100 and 150mgL-1). These pulse treated (24h) flowers were transported to distilled water or nanosilver solution of 4mgL-1 . The anthocyanin contents, membrane stability indexes and solution uptake rates in all treatment groups gradually decreased during the experimental days. However, the reduction rates of the mentioned critical parameters were alleviated by the applied preservatives where SA especially in combination with nanosilverwere more effective than BA. In contrast to SA, the longevity of gerbera cut flowers adversely affected with increasing the level of BA. The obtained results from the present research indicated that the application of salicylic acid as preservative was more effective than benzyladenin for promoting the longevity of gerbera cut flowers. In addition, the efficacies of the applied preservatives (salicylic acid and benzyladenin) were increased with the used level of nanosilver.