Post-Harvest Life of Tinted Single and Bicolored Rose Variety Ice Breaker as Influenced by Dye Concentration

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.