The Effects of Commonly Used Compounds on the Post-harvest Storage of Gerbera, Gladiolus, Tuberose, and Rose: A Review

Short flower vase life is one of the most important limitations for ornamental plants trading, especially cut flowers. The vase life of cut flowers is greatly impacted by various factors, including a decrease in carbohydrate compounds due to respiration, as well as the negative effects and toxics of Toxic substances of harmful microorganisms, physical injuries, and high sensitivity to ethylene. The most important signs of loss quality in cut flowers are the wilting or leaves and petals fall, leaf yellowing, and bending of the flower stem or inflorescence. For this purpose, the using of preservatives in the form of energy source like sucrose and other sugars, biocides, mineral ions, growth regulators, or various metabolic inhibitors are also known to have a significant impact on flower vase life. These preservative compounds have various effects, including reducing respiration rate and ethylene production; moreover they are effective on the activity of antioxidant enzymes. In this review, the action mode of some widely used preservative compounds have been noticed to increasing the post-harvest vase life of important cut flowers, such as gerbera, gladiolus, tuberose, and rose.