Effect of ethylene absorbent zeolite application on keeping cut carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.  Red') quality

The climacteric rises of ethylene production and respiration or exposure to the exogenous ethylene are more responsible for the relatively short life of carnations cut flowers. Applications of superabsorbents could lead to the decrease in the ethylene concentration. Zeolite at three levels of 0, 0.5 and 1 g coated with potassium permanganate (one mM) at 4 levels of 0, 1, 2 and 3% (weight basis) applied as treatments for the evaluation of carnation cut flowers (Dianthus caryophyllus L. ‘Red’) performance in isolated containers (one 30 cm cut flower per isolated container). The chosen levels of potassium permanganate were able to cover each of the zeolite treatments. The control treatment was without zeolite and potasium permanganate. A factorial experiment based on completely randomized design conducted with three replications. Characters such as fresh and dry weight of cut flowers, vase life, cell membrane maintenance index (electrolyte leakage), ethylene concentration, leaf chlorophylls content, and petal anthocyanins were evaluated. Results revealed that 0.5 g of zeolite coated with 2% of potassium permanganate was effective treatment to improve the vase life of cut flowers, to decrease the ethylene concentration in container, to maintain the membrane stability, leaf chlorophylls and petal anthocyanins. Results of this research could be used to improve the vase life of carnation cut flowers during transport or marketing.