Application of polyamine and boron improves quality of potted gerbera cv. Kosak

Abstract

Polyamines and boron spray were applied on gerbera to study their effect on the quality of flowers in potted plants of gerbera cv. ‘‘Kosak’’. The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design with six treatments (control, 0.8 mL-1 boron, 2 mMol L-1 putrescine (Put), 2 mMol L-1 spermine (Spm), 0.8 mL-1 boron + 2 mMol L-1 Put and 0.8 mL-1 boron + 2 mMol L-1 Spm) replicated six times. Gerberas (ligules and leaves) cv. ‘‘Kosak’’ were sprayed once with 100 mL of each concentration as treatment. In all the treatments, 1 mL/100 L-1 of a non-ionic surfactant was added to improve wetting and spray distribution. The results indicated significant effect of Put, Spm and boron on measured traits (P≤0.05). Mean comparison showed that 2 mMol L-1 Spm produced the better quality potted gerberas. It was verified that polyamines and boron was effective to delay flower senescence of gerberas ‘‘Kosak’’. However, the combination of the two substances (0.8 mL-1 boron + 2 mMol L-1 Put and 0.8 mL-1 boron + 2 mMol L-1 Spm) had non significant effect on flower shelf life.