INTRODUCTION

Tuberose is grown on a wide range of soil and
climatic conditions but it flowers best in warm and humid
climate. Among four types of tuberose, the Double floret
type is mainly cultivated for cut flowers, whereas single
types are grown for loose flower production and also for
extraction of essential oil. The post harvest management is
one of the most important factors in the production and
marketing of cut flowers.  At present flower growers are
not aware of standardized post harvest technology including
the harvesting time and use of floral preservatives to extend
the vase life. Available literature indicated the meager work
done on date of harvesting and hence an attempt is made to
standardize the date of harvesting and use of floral
preservatives in tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) cv.
Double to extend the vase life of cut flower during rainy
season.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The present investigation was conducted at
Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture,
Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh (Gujarat)

Effect of date of harvest and floral preservatives on
vase life of cut flowers in tuberose (Polyanthes tuberosa L.) cv. Double

D. K. Varu and A. V. Barad
Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture

Junagadh  Agricultural University, Junagadh-362 001, India
E-mail: dkvaru@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Studies conducted to find out the effect of date of harvesting and floral preservatives on vase life and quality
of tuberose cv. Double revealed that among treatments, harvesting on 1st October (D

8
) was better for longer vase

life, whereas, 15th August (D
5
) for minimum loss of water, maximum fresh weight of the spike and percentage of

opened florets. Similarly, harvesting on 15th September (D
7
) was found better for longest floret longevity as well

as loss uptake ratio. In case of floral preservatives, the treatment 500 ppm aluminum sulphate + 4% sucrose
(C

6
) was found better for longer vase life, maximum uptake of water, lowest loss-uptake ratio and maximum

fresh weight of spike, whereas, 400 ppm 8-HQS + 4% sucrose (C
8
) for maximum floret longevity and floret

circumference as well as maximum percentage of opened and lowest percentage of neck bent florets. The
treatment, 50 ppm silver nitrate + 4% sucrose (C

3
) exhibited lowest loss of water.  In case of interaction effect,

1st October with 500 ppm aluminum sulphate + 4% sucrose (D
8
C

6
) was found superior for maximum vase life of

spike, highest uptake of water and fresh weight of spike.

Key words : Tuberose, vase life, floral preservatives

during rainy season of the year 2003 and 2004  in the
factorial C R D. The treatments comprised of different
floral preservatives like T

1
- sucrose @ 4%, T

2
- Aluminum

sulphate @ 500 ppm, T
3
-Silver nitrate @ 50 ppm, T

4
-8-

HQS @ 400 ppm, T
5
- citric acid @ 300 ppm and their

combinations with sucrose @ 4% (T
6
, T

7
, T

8
, T

9
) and T

10
-

Distilled water (Control). The trial was repeated at
fortnightly interval during the season with each of the 8
dates of harvesting (D

1 
- 15th June, D

2 
-1st July, D

3 
-15th

July, D
4 
- 1st August,       D

5 
-15th August, D

6 
- 1st September,

D
7 

- 15th September, D
8 

-1st October)  starting from 15th

June, 2003 to 1st October, 2003. The same was repeated
for second year during 2004. Observation on mean
temperature, relative humidity and evapo-transpiration rate
were recorded.  Healthy, uniform and homogenous spikes
were selected and harvested at one or two floret opening
stage. Spikes were made to uniform length through
trimming. Observations like uptake of water, water loss,
loss-uptake ratio, fresh weight of spike, percentage of
opened, partial opened, neck bent and abscised florets as
well as floret longevity, floret circumference and vase life
of the spikes were recorded.

J. Hort. Sci.
Vol. 2 (2): 148-152, 2007

148



149

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Vase life of spike

Maximum vase life of spike (14.34 days) was
observed at 1st October (D

8
) date of harvesting, whereas,

among preservatives, highest (14.44 days) was recorded in
500 ppm aluminum sulphate+ 4% sucrose (C

6
) (Table 1).

The interaction was also found to be significant with their
combination (D

8
C

6
). Similarly minimum vase life (10.63 and

9.82 days) was noted at D
6 
(1st September) and under control

(C
10

), respectively, as well as in their interaction (D
6
C

10
).

The extended vase life might be due to decreased loss of
water as well as loss-uptake ratio, tends to increase the water
balance in the spike because of lower range of temperature
and evapo transpiration with higher range humidity.

Aluminum sulphate is responsible for lowering the
pH of petal and acidifying the holding water, this might
have reduced the bacterial growth and improved water
uptake. It also reduces transpiration by inducing the stomatal
closure. Exogenous sucrose serves as source of energy and
respiratory substrate for the maintenance of osmotic
potential in flowers. The translocated sucrose accumulates

in the flowers increasing its osmotic concentration which
improves the ability of the tissue to absorb water and
maintain turgidity. Similar results were also reported by
Gowda (1990) and  Reddy and Singh (1996) in tuberose.

Floret longevity and circumference

Maximum floret longevity (4.45 days) was
recorded in spikes harvested on 1st September (D

6
). Among

floral preservatives, highest floret longevity  (4.46 days)
was recorded in the C

8
 treatment (400 ppm 8-HQS + 4%

sucrose) (Table 1).

Highest floret circumference  (7.06 cm) was
registered in 1st July (D

2
) harvested spikes and the treatment

400 ppm 8-HQS + 4% sucrose (C
8
) recorded  (7.91 cm).

The interaction effect was significant for floret longevity,
but not for circumference.

Uptake of water, loss of water and water loss-uptake
ratio

The uptake of water, loss of water and water loss-
uptake ratio were significant (Table 2) and recorded the
best values (83.10 g, 46.85 g  and 1.53) in spikes harvested
on 15th June (D

1
), 15th August (D

5
) and 1st October (D

8
),

Table 1.   Effect of  date of harvesting and floral preservatives on  vase life of spike, floret longevity and circumference of tuberose.

Treatments Vase life (Days) Floret longevity (Days) Floret circumference (cm)
2003 2004 Pooled 2003 2004 Pooled 2003 2004 Pooled

Date of  harvesting
D

1
11.97 12.65 12.31 3.55 3.63 3.59 6.78 6.84 6.81

D
2

11.72 11.87 11.80 4.16 4.16 4.16 7.26 6.85 7.06
D

3
12.84 10.87 11.86 3.87 3.81 3.84 6.59 7.09 6.84

D
4

11.30 10.52 10.91 4.09 3.86 3.97 6.27 6.09 6.18
D

5
12.55 13.96 13.25 3.87 3.87 3.87 5.36 6.08 5.72

D
6

10.97 10.30 10.63 4.22 4.67 4.45 6.70 6.71 6.71
D

7
12.80 15.03 13.92 3.81 4.12 3.96 6.59 6.72 6.65

D
8

14.25 14.43 14.34 3.86 4.16 4.01 6.42 6.56 6.49
S.Em.± 0.108 0.123 0.66 0.021 0.037 0.11 0.063 0.063 0.18
C.D. (P=0.05) 0.30 0.34 2.20 0.06 0.10 0.38 0.18 0.18 0.59

Floral preservatives
C

1
13.12 13.61 13.36 3.78 3.94 3.86 6.11 5.85 5.98

C
2

13.09 13.26 13.17 4.14 4.65 4.39 6.77 6.64 6.70
C

3
10.90 11.40 11.15 3.78 3.61 3.70 5.84 5.57 5.70

C
4

12.25 12.16 12.20 4.39 4.05 4.22 7.45 7.86 7.65
C

5
12.15 12.56 12.36 3.62 3.96 3.79 6.21 6.67 6.44

C
6

14.37 14.50 14.44 4.37 4.56 4.46 6.92 7.28 7.10
C

7
11.96 12.06 12.01 3.60 3.66 3.63 5.85 5.67 5.76

C
8

12.72 12.37 12.54 4.44 4.49 4.46 7.84 7.99 7.91
C

9
12.92 12.51 12.71 3.73 3.89 3.81 6.39 7.03 6.71

C
10

9.52 10.13 9.82 3.42 3.55 3.49 5.60 5.63 5.62
S.Em.± 0.121 0.137 0.18 0.023 0.041 0.12 0.070 0.070 0.17
C.D. (P=0.05) 0.34 0.38 0.56 0.06 0.12 0.38 0.20 0.20 0.53

Interaction    D x C
S.Em.± 0.34 0.39 0.55 0.07 0.12 0.19 0.20 0.20 0.29
C.D.(P=0.05) 0.96 1.09 1.55 0.18 0.33 0.55 0.55 0.56 NS

Vase life of cut flowers in tuberose

J. Hort. Sci.
Vol. 2 (2): 148-152, 2007



150

respectively. This may be due to increased uptake of water
associated with reduced loss of water resulting in optimum
water balance in the spike. The highest loss-uptake ratio
(2.58) was recorded in the spike harvested on 1st August
(D

4
). In case of floral preservatives, maximum uptake of

water (77.42 g) and lowest loss-uptake ratio (1.42) were
registered in 500 ppm aluminum sulphate + 4% sucrose
(C

6
), whereas, the minimum loss of water (72.40 g) was

with 50 ppm silver nitrate (C
3
). The interaction effect was

also found significant and recorded superior at combinations
1st October harvesting + (500 ppm aluminum sulphate + 4
% sucrose) (D

8
C

6
) for uptake of water and loss-uptake ratio,

whereas, D
5
C

3 
for loss of water. Both aluminum sulphate

and sucrose, help in increased uptake and reduced loss of
water. These results are in agreement with the findings of
Reddy et al (1995) and Reddy and Singh (1996) in tuberose.

Fresh weight of spike (g)

Maximum fresh weight (60.72 g) at 14th day was
recorded in  15th August (D

5
) harvested spikes, which was

at par with harvesting dates D
8
, D

7
, D

3
 & D

2
 (Table 3).  The

higher fresh weight might be due to higher water uptake

coupled with lowest loss of water. Low temperature and
high humidity during October might have reduced
transpiration thus lowering water loss from the spikes.

Significantly highest spike fresh weight (68.71 g)
was observed with 500 ppm aluminum sulphate + 4% sucrose
(C

6
), whereas, the lowest fresh weight (44.63 g) was recorded

in control (C
10

). It may be due to the fact that both aluminum
sulphate and sucrose improve the water retention of the spike.
Sucrose has been shown to act as an oxidisable respiratory
substrate and antidesiccant and, thus, increases the fresh
weight. Similar results were also obtained by Reddy and
Singh (1996) and Bhaskar et al (2000) in tuberose.
Percentage of  opened and partially opened florets

Maximum percentage of opened florets (46.39 %)
was recorded in D

5
 (Harvesting at 15th August) and among

floral preservatives C
8 

(400 ppm 8-HQS+ 4 % sucrose)
recorded highest (58.20%). Similarly, for percentage of
partial opened florets, maximum (5.34 and 5.11%) was
observed in D

6
 (Harvesting at 1st September) and C

7
 (50

ppm silver nitrate + 4% sucrose), respectively (Table 3).
The interaction effect was found non significant for both.

Table 2.   Effect of  date of harvesting and floral preservatives on uptake of water, loss of water and loss-uptake ratio  during vase life of
tuberose.

Treatments Uptake of water (g) Loss of Water (g) Loss-uptake ratio
2003 2004 Pooled 2003 2004 Pooled 2003 2004 Pooled

Date of  harvesting
D

1
84.53 81.67 83.10 137.23 124.87 131.05 1.68 1.58 1.63

D
2

39.90 69.27 54.58 71.17 114.43 92.80 1.91 1.73 1.82
D

3
34.97 39.70 37.33 59.03 71.03 65.03 1.74 1.97 1.86

D
4

25.43 25.87 25.65 61.33 60.50 60.92 2.6 2.57 2.58
D

5
26.93 27.27 27.10 38.20 55.50 46.85 1.56 2.22 1.89

D
6

44.67 31.17 37.92 77.70 59.07 68.38 1.77 1.98 1.87
D

7
53.03 71.33 62.18 104.80 105.33 105.07 2.15 2.15 2.15

D
8

74.50 86.93 80.72 111.60 125.40 118.50 1.57 1.48 1.53
S.Em.± 0.344 0.695 6.71 0.594 0.911 9.69 0.029 0.041 0.14
C.D. (P=0.05) 0.96 1.95 22.41 1.66 2.55 32.33 0.08 0.12 0.46

Floral preservatives
C

1
53.62 61.38 57.50 80.88 92.92 86.90 1.52 1.63 1.57

C
2

64.50 72.13 68.31 93.33 104.63 98.98 1.66 1.9 1.78
C

3
36.79 37.17 36.98 72.17 72.63 72.40 2.18 2.42 2.3

C
4

45.42 47.38 46.40 87.63 88.58 88.10 1.98 2.14 2.06
C

5
36.67 52.58 44.63 73.13 85.75 79.44 2.05 1.87 1.96

C
6

72.13 82.71 77.42 89.58 109.21 99.40 1.35 1.48 1.42
C

7
37.75 40.50 39.13 75.54 69.96 72.75 2.1 1.94 2.02

C
8

47.38 52.63 50.00 96.58 99.33 97.96 2.12 2.18 2.15
C

9
47.50 51.67 49.58 81.29 86.75 84.02 1.76 1.9 1.83

C
10

38.21 43.38 40.79 76.21 85.42 80.81 2.02 2.14 2.08
S.Em.± 0.385 0.777 2.29 0.664 1.018 3.72 0.032 0.046 0.07
C.D. (P=0.05) 1.08 2.18 7.30 1.86 2.85 11.88 0.09 0.13 0.24

Interaction D x C
S.Em.± 1.09 2.20 5.67 1.88 2.88 7.18 0.09 0.13 0.19
C.D. (P=0.05) 3.05 6.16 16.03 5.26 8.06 20.31 0.26 0.37 0.55

Varu and Barad

J. Hort. Sci.
Vol. 2 (2): 148-152, 2007



151

Table 3.   Effect of  date of harvesting and floral  preservatives on fresh weight of spike,   percentage of fully opened and partial opened
florets during vase life.

Treats Fresh Weight (g) Opened florets (%) Partial opened florets
at 14th days at 12th days at 12th days

2003 2004 Pooled 2003 2004 Pooled 2003 2004 Pooled
Date of  harvesting

D
1

50.67 51.17 50.92 26.03 27.63 26.83 3.40(10.59) 3.72(12.84) 3.56(11.69)
D

2
52.40 52.53 52.47 39.37 29.72 34.55 3.70(12.66) 3.81(13.55) 3.75(13.10)

D
3

54.57 50.50 52.53 45.16 42.28 43.72 5.25(26.59) 4.37(18.06) 4.81(22.13)
D

4
44.10 44.10 44.10 37.67 33.07 35.37 3.97(14.75) 3.95(14.59) 3.96(14.67)

D
5

67.60 53.83 60.72 50.24 42.54 46.39 4.35(17.89) 4.59(20.05) 4.47(18.95)
D

6
55.33 45.77 50.55 43.30 28.42 35.86 5.01(24.11) 5.67(31.15 5.34(27.52)

D
7

55.80 51.43 53.62 28.57 33.03 30.80 5.18(25.81) 4.78(21.89) 4.98(23.81)
D

8
59.33 57.33 58.33 31.82 32.29 32.05 4.79(21.98) 3.94(14.51 4.37(18.06)

S.Em.± 0.618 0.607 2.56 0.260 0.305 3.21 0.021 0.025 0.28
C.D. (P=0.05) 1.73 1.70 8.55 0.73 0.85 10.71 0.06 0.07 0.93

Floral preservatives
C

1
64.96 56.50 60.73 32.62 31.33 31.97 4.32(10.59) 4.49(12.84) 4.40(11.69)

C
2

61.83 59.63 60.73 41.51 36.86 39.19 3.9912.66) 4.06(13.55) 4.03(13.10)
C

3
58.25 47.67 52.96 25.68 16.50 21.09 4.43(26.59) 4.69(18.06) 4.56(22.13)

C
4

47.25 42.71 44.98 51.48 48.89 50.19 4.17(14.75) 3.85(14.59) 4.01(14.67)
C

5
46.63 49.92 48.27 35.42 32.37 33.89 4.76(21.68) 4.17(16.40) 4.47(18.95)

C
6

69.67 67.75 68.71 44.86 42.79 43.83 4.94(23.40) 4.54(19.65) 4.74(21.49)
C

7
50.04 49.38 49.71 27.76 18.81 23.29 5.26(26.68) 4.96(23.63) 5.11(25.13)

C
8

46.79 46.58 46.69 56.53 59.87 58.20 4.05(15.41) 3.95(14.63) 4.00(15.02)
C

9
55.75 47.54 51.65 35.62 29.86 32.74 4.16(16.31) 4.51(19.36) 4.34(17.80)

C
10

48.58 40.67 44.63 26.22 18.94 22.58 4.47(19.02) 4.31(17.54) 4.39(18.27)
S.Em.± 0.691 0.679 2.25 0.291 0.341 1.92 0.024 0.028 0.15
C.D. (P=0.05) 1.93 1.90 7.20 0.81 0.95 6.15 0.07 0.08 0.49

Interaction    D x C
S.Em.± 1.95 1.92 4.64 0.82 0.96 5.09 0.07 0.08 0.54
C.D. (P=0.05) 5.47 5.37 13.12 2.31 2.70 NS 0.19 0.22 NS

The result may be due to higher uptake of water with low
transpiration because of low temperature with slight
changes in relative humidity and evapo-transpiration. The
8-HQS has germicidal and chelating properties, which might
have reduced the stem blockage and maintained the water
conductivity. Sucrose prevents the moisture stress by
increasing the osmotic concentration and water absorption.
Similar beneficial effect of sucrose was also noted by
Mukhopadhyay, (1982); Reddy et al  (1997); Singh et al
(1994) and Nagaraju et al (2002) in tuberose.

Percentage of neck bent and abscised florets

Significantly lower percentage of neck bent and
abscised florets (34.14 & 1.44%) were registered at 15th July
(D

3
) and 15th June (D

1
), respectively, (Table 4). The results

might be due to optimum water balance in the spike, which
could have lowered the concentration of abscissic acid (ABA)
and ethylene. Among floral preservatives, the  lowest (24.12
and 2.72%) were  observed in C

8
 (400 ppm 8-HQS + 4%

sucrose) and  C
1 
(4% sucrose), respectively. The interaction

was significant for abscised florets only. The 8-HQS initiates
the activities of cytokinin, which might have decreased the

ethylene production thereby resulting in lower percent of
neck bent florets. Sucrose also antagonizes the effects of
abscissic acid in delaying the senescence.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors are grateful to the Dean, P.G. Studies,

Junagadh Agril. University, Junagadh, for providing
necessary facilities.

REFERENCES

Bhaskar V. V., Rao P. V. and Reddy, Y. N. 2000. Effect of
certain chemicals on the post harvest vase life of cut
tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) Cv. Double. J.  Orn.
Hort., (New Series), 3:6-11

Gowda, J. V. N. 1990. Effect of sucrose and aluminum
sulphate on the post harvest life of tuberose Cv.
Double. Curr. Res., 19:14-16

Mukhopadhyay, T. P. 1982. Effect of chemicals on the
development and vase life of tuberose.  South Ind.
J. Hort., 30:281-84

Nagaraju,  H. T.; Narayangowda, J. V. and  Nagaraja, G. S.
2002. Effect of certain chemicals on tuberose vase
life. Floriculture research trend in India. Proceedings

Vase life of cut flowers in tuberose

J. Hort. Sci.
Vol. 2 (2): 148-152, 2007



152

Table 4 .  Effect of  date of harvesting and floral preservatives on percentage of neck bent as well as abscised  florets at 12th day of vase life of
tuberose.

Treatment Neck bent florets (%) Abscised florets (%)
2003 2004 Pooled 2003 2004 Pooled

Date of  harvesting
D

1
34.22 36.05 35.14 *1.44(1.07) 1.44(1.06) 1.44(1.07)

D
2

36.06 38.21 37.13 2.62(5.87) 2.60(5.78) 2.61(5.82)
D

3
35.74 32.53 34.14 3.92(14.39) 3.96(14.68) 3.94(14.54)

D
4

39.80 36.59 38.19 4.04(15.32) 3.80(13.44) 3.92(14.37)
D

5
36.82 35.91 36.36 3.79(13.37) 3.93(14.42) 3.86(13.89)

D
6

40.81 39.30 40.05 3.55(11.61) 2.75(6.56) 3.15(8.92)
D

7
37.49 36.26 36.87 4.80(22.06) 4.68(20.90) 4.74(21.48)

D
8

39.55 38.44 38.99 4.35(17.91) 4.29(17.43) 4.32(17.67)
S.Em.± 0.385 0.543 1.00 0.025 0.017 0.15
C.D. (P=0.05) 1.08 1.52 3.33 0.07 0.05 0.49

Floral preservatives
C

1
33.33 29.61 31.47 2.62(5.85) 2.83(6.99) 2.72(6.40)

C
2

22.99 28.01 25.50 4.57(19.87) 4.37(18.06) 4.47(18.96)
C

3
39.10 53.74 46.42 3.44(10.81) 3.15(8.90) 3.29(9.84)

C
4

35.00 22.61 28.80 4.07(15.53) 3.57(11.77) 3.82(13.59)
C

5
44.90 34.46 39.68 3.85(13.86) 3.15(8.90) 3.50(11.25)

C
6

28.58 31.46 30.02 3.69(12.59) 3.51(11.32) 3.60(11.95)
C

7
53.53 58.73 56.13 2.83(7.03) 3.08(8.46) 2.95(7.73)

C
8

34.88 13.35 24.12 3.65(12.31) 3.30(9.86) 3.47(11.06)
C

9
36.06 36.36 36.21 3.82(13.56) 3.28(9.74) 3.55(11.58)

C
10

47.21 58.28 52.75 3.12(8.71) 4.10(15.78) 3.61(12.00)
S.Em.± 0.431 0.607 5.60 0.028 0.020 0.25
C.D. (P=0.05) 1.21 1.70 17.91 0.08 0.05 0.79

Interaction    D x C
S.Em.± 1.22 1.72 7.18 0.08 0.06 0.51
C.D. (P=0.05) 3.41 4.81 NS 0.22 0.15 1.44

* A figure  out of parentheses indicates square root transformed value

of the national symposium on Indian floriculture in
the new millennium, 2002:346-347

Reddy, B. S., Singh, K., Gupta, A. K., Singh, A.,
Sathyanarayana Reddy, B., Kartar, Singh and
Amarjeet, Singh. 1995. Post harvest life of tuberose
as affected by 8-hydroxy quinoline sulphate and
sucrose, Adv. Agril. Res. India, 3:208-214

Reddy, B. S. and Singh, K. 1996. Effects of aluminium
sulphate and sucrose on vase life of tuberose. J
Maharashtra Agril. Univ., 21:201-203

Reddy, B. S., Kartar, Singh, Gangadharappa, P. M., Singh,
K. and Sathyanarayana and Reddy, B.1997. Post
harvest life of tuberose cv. Double as affected by
different metallic salts, citric acid and 8-HQS.
Karnataka J. Agrci. Sci. 10 : 1049-1054

Singh, K.; B. Satyanarayana Reddy and A. K. Gupta 1994.
Role of GA, 8-HQS and Sucrose in extending post
harvest vase life of Tuberose flowers cv. Double.
Floriculture Technology, Trades and Trends, Oxford
& IBH publ. pvt. Ltd., Culcutta, p. 419-524

(MS Received 17 July 2007, Revised 26 October 2007)

Varu and Barad

J. Hort. Sci.
Vol. 2 (2): 148-152, 2007