Khagendra P. Sharma*, Theeranuch Jaroenkit**,Sakesan Usahatanonta** and Yongyut Khamseee***
*National Spice Development Program, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal
**Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agricultural Production, Maejo University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
***Department of Postharvest Technology, Faculty of Engineering and Agro-industry, Maejo University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Abstract
Five preservative solutions were tested to identify an appropriate preservative solution for extending the vase-life and improving the flower-bud opening of Mokara Madame Panne cut orchid grown in Chiang Mai province, Thailand. The experiments were conducted at the Department of Horticulture, Maejo University during 2007-2008. The inflorescences of Mokara Madame Panne orchid bearing 7-8 (nearly 50%) opened florets were used for this experiment. The preservative solutions containing 150 ppm 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate (8-HQS) + 2% sucrose, 50 ppm aluminum sulfate [Al2 (SO4)3] + 2% sucrose, 150 ppm 8-HQS + 50 ppm Al2(SO4)3, 150 ppm 8-HQS+50 ppm Al2 (SO4)3 + 2% sucrose, and only reverse osmosis (RO) water were evaluated to find-out the changes in water relation, total sugar content in florets and flower-stems and flower-bud opening. In addition, the change in floret color was also determined. Results revealed that the preservative solution containing 150 ppm 8-HQS+50 ppm Al2 (SO4)3 can extend the vase-life of Mokara Madame Panne cut orchid significantly for 26 days as compared to the control treatment for 19 days. The other preservative solutions, 150 ppm 8-HQS + 50 ppm Al2 (SO4)3, + 2% sucrose, 150 ppm 8-HQS + 2% Sucrose and 50 ppm Al2 (SO4)3 + 2% sucrose provided the vase-life for 22.5, 19 and 18 days, respectively. However, no significant difference could be detected in flower-bud opening among the treatments applied.
Keywords: Mokara Orchid, Preservative solutions, Flower-bud opening, Vase-life