Abstract:
Rose is one of the cut flowers of higher demand both in the
domestic and international market. It comes in a variety of single
colors however bicolor and multicolor roses are not common. The
study aimed at evaluating the effects of different dyes and their
concentrations on post-harvest life of tinted single and bicolored
rose variety Ice breaker. The experiment consisted of the control, 3
dyes (blue, green and orange) each at 15g and 30g to obtain the
single color, and orange and blue colors in the ratio of 1: 1 (30:30)
and 2:1(30:15) to obtain the bicolor, replicated 3 times. The flowers
were allowed to stand in the dye solution for a period of 24 hours.
The absorption of blue dye solution at 15g was higher compared to
the orange and green dye solutions and their concentrations.
Flowers treated with orange and blue dyes in the ratio of 2:1
absorbed more dye than those treated with the same dyes at the ratio
of 1:1. After tinting, the flowers were placed in the preservative
solution containing sucrose and citric acid to determine the quality
and vase life. High concentration of dye limited petal expansion and
tinted flowers treated with 30g of each of the dyes used recorded
lower flower diameter and petal fresh weight than those treated with
15g of the dyes.
Vase life was also shortened by high dye
concentration to 6 days compared to 9 days
for those treated with low dye concentration.
Bicolored flowers recorded shorter vase life
than the control and those treated with 15g
of each of the dyes. Bicolored flowers
treated with orange and blue dyes in the ratio
of 2:1 exhibited longer vase life and petal
fresh weight than those treated with the
same dyes in the ratio of 1:1. Though
bicolored flowers had a shorter vase life
they can be very attractive in decorations
and floral arrangements.
