Effect of Salicylic acid and Methyl jasmonate on Quality and Vase- life of Gerbera (Gerbera jamesoniicv. Sazu) Cut Flower

Gerbera (Gerbereajamesonii) cut flower has magnificent economical value in international cut flower industry. Due to sensitivityto ethylene and to gray mold, it has a short postharvest life. In this research, the effects of pulsing treatments with Salicylic Acid (100 and 200 mg/L) and Methyl jasmonate (25 and 50 mg/L) for 24h on quality and vase-life of gerbera cut flower were assessed. Distilled water + Sucrose (4%) was applied as control treatment. Afther treatment application, the flowers were taken out and kept in distilled water + sucrose (4%) solution at 25±2.C˚The highest vase-life was obtained in salicylic acid 200 mg/L (9.91 day) followed by methyl jasmonate 25 mg/L (9.66 day), compared to control (7.49 day). Among the treatments, salicylic acid (200 mg/L) decreased flower petal wilting, preservative pH, and microorganism growth and subsequently increased the absorption of preservative solution, soluble solids, cut flower stem diameter and vase-life,therefore it can be choose as best treatment in this experiment.