Effect of Pre-harvest Foliar Application of Polyamines and Calcium Sulfate on Vegetative Characteristics and Mineral Nutrient Uptake in <i>Rosa hybrida</i>

Abstract

In order to improve the quality of cut rose ‘Dolce Vita', an investigation was performed with 20 treatments, 3 replications, and 2 plants in each replicate in a greenhouse with the open soilless culture system. The treatments included control (distilled water), putrescine (Put) at the rates of 1, 2 or 3 mM, spermidine (Spd) at the rates of 0.5, 1 or 1.5 mM, spermine (Spm) at the rates of 1, 2 or 4 mM, calcium sulfate (CS) at the rates of 2.5 or 5 mM, and the combined treatments of Put + CS and Spd + CS. The traits such as stem height, flower length and diameter, stem fresh weight, vase life, and leaf mineral uptake including N, P, K, Ca, Fe and Zn were measured. According to the results, the combined application of polyamines (PAs) with CS had a significant influence on increasing the parameters such as stem height, flower length and diameter, stem fresh weight, and vase life. The rose flowers treated with Put 2 mM + CS 2.5 mM, Spd 0.5 or 1 mM + CS 5 mM showed the highest vase life (16.2, 16 and 16 days, respectively) compared to other treatments. The combined application of PAs and CS enhanced the uptake of minerals when compared to their individual application. The plants sprayed with Spd and CS exhibited the highest Ca uptake. Generally, the results showed that PAs and CS increased quantitative and qualitative characteristics of rose flower ‘Dolce Vita' in soilless culture system due to the increased uptake of minerals. It can be inferred that the foliar application of PAs and CS sulfate can be effective in improving the quantitative and qualitative traits of this cultivar.