Investigation of preharvest application of salicylic acid and methyl jasmonate on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of cut rose flower

In this research the effect of preharvest application of salicylic acid and methyl jasmonate on vase life and some qualitative and quantitative characteristics of cut rose flowers cvs. ‘Sweet Water’ and ‘Dolsevita’ was investigated. Salicylic acid at 0.01, 0.05 and 0.1 mM and methyl jasmonate at 0.1 and 0.2 mM foliar sprayed and distilled water used as control. This experiment was carried out using CRD with four replications. Harvested flowers kept at 3±1°C and 70-80% RH. Results showed that methyl jasmonate at 0.2 and salicylic acid at 0.1 mM on ‘Sweet Water’ and methyl jasmonate at 0.1 mM on ‘Dolsevita’ increased vase life with delay in senescence related processes through increase in solution uptake, increase in relative fresh weight, maintenance of plant membrane stability and stem total carbohydrate. Also, ‘Sweet Water’ with average of 40.56 days compared with ‘Dolsevita’ with average of 27.74 days increased the vase life. Overall, preharvest spray of roses with methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid as a method to increase postharvest quality and maintenance of cut roses is recommendable.