EFFECT OF GAMMA IRRADIATION AND SOME HOLDING SOLUTIONS ON VASE LIFE OF GERBERA CUT FLOWERS

Nowadays, the most of investigations are directed towards the using of natural materials for reducing pollution environment. So, this study was consummated at Post-Harvest Lab. of  Floriculture Dept., Hort. Res. Inst., Giza, Egypt during 2012 and 2013 seasons to study the effect of some holding solutions, viz. distilled water (control), calcium chloride (1 & 3 g/l), calcium claw (1 & 3 g/l), egg shell (0.5 & 1.5 g/l), oysters (0.5 & 1.5 g/l), humic acid (50 & 150 g/l) and three doses of gamma irradiation (100, 200 & 400 Gy) on longevity of flower heads (vase life), water uptake, water loss, relative fresh weight, dry weight and flower diameter of Gerbera jamesonii, cv. Rosalin & Express cut flowers. The obtained results cleared that application of CaCl2 (1 or 3 g/l) with HQ 0.2 g/l and 20 g/l sucrose resulted in a great extension in vase life and water uptake more than other treatments. Rosalin cultivar recorded significant increase in longevity, water uptake comparing to gerbera cut flowers of cv. Express during the two seasons. Gamma ray (200 Gy) recorded the least rate of water loss in cv. Rosalin in the two seasons. Superiority was for the treatment with oysters (1.5 g/l) in improvement of relative fresh weight in both seasons followed by gamma ray (200 Gy), also gamma irradiation at the doses 200 Gy plus CaCl2 at 1 g/l + sucrose at 20 g/l significantly increased dry weight of the two cultivars Rosalin and Express followed  by claw (1 g/l). All treatments gave higher record in comparison with control for diameter. The present research indicated that the application of CaCl2 (1 g/l) with HQ 0.2  g/l and 20 g/l sucrose after exposure of cut flowers to irradiation with gamma at (200 Gy)maximizes flower diameter. Results showed that, treating with CaCl2 at 3 g/l + HQ at 0.2 g/l and suc. at 20 g/l, or gamma rays at 200 Gy + CaCl2 at 1 g/l + HQ at 2 g/l + Sucrose at 20 g/l registered the highest increments in chlorophyll a in the stems and soluble sugars in the stems and petals. It is concluded that the use of the holding solution containing calcium chloride at 3 g/l plus hydroxyqenolin plus sucrose alone or after irradiation with gamma at 200 Gy gave the maximum vase life.