Title: Effects of silver nanoparticles (SNP) on Gerbera jamesonii cut flowers

Authors: Mousa Solgi; Mohsen Kafi; Toktam Sadat Taghavi; Roohangiz Naderi; Joseph X. Eyre; Daryl C. Joyce

Addresses: Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Arak University, Arak 38156-8-8349, Iran. ' Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Engineering, University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran. ' Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Engineering, University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran. ' Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Engineering, University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran. ' The University of Queensland, Centre for Native Floriculture, School of Land, Crop and Food Sciences, Gatton, Queensland, 4343, Australia. ' The University of Queensland, Centre for Native Floriculture, School of Land, Crop and Food Sciences, Gatton, Queensland, 4343, Australia; Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, P.O. Box 5083, SCMS, Nambour QLD, 4560, Australia

Abstract: Gerbera vase life is most often terminated by stem bending and breaking or petal wilting. Effects of vase solutions containing 1 mg L^?1 silver nanoparticles with or without 6% sucrose on gerbera |deep purple| vase life, relative fresh weight, relative solution uptake, stem bending or breaking, stem end discolouration and ethylene production by petals, stem ends and stem necks were evaluated. The combination of SNP plus 6% sucrose increased vase life by 8 days compared with the deionised water control. Petal wilting and stem break were decreased by SNP plus 6% sucrose compared to the control. SNP plus 6% sucrose treatment enhanced ethylene production by petals, stem ends and stem necks during vase life. However, there were no obvious adverse effects of this increased ethylene on vase life parameters. Overall, results suggest that 1 mg L^?1 SNP plus 6% sucrose has commercial potential as a vase solution for cut gerbera flowers.

Keywords: antimicrobial; ethylene; petal discolouration; petal wilting; silver nanoparticles; SNP; stem bending; stem breakage; vase life; vase solution; Gerbera jamesonii; cut flowers; sucrosee.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPTI.2011.043325

International Journal of Postharvest Technology and Innovation, 2011 Vol.2 No.3, pp.274 - 285

Received: 24 Oct 2010
Accepted: 28 Feb 2011
Published online: 18 Feb 2015 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article