This study was carried out to determine an appropriate chemical vase solution
.technology for the increased vase life of carnation cut flowers. The experiment was
conducted in National Agriculture Research Institute, NARC, Lalitpur, Nepal during gh
Juiy 2007 to 28" October 2007. The six different chemical preservatives in . vase
solutions were evaluated to increase the vase life of carnation cut flowers. The vase life
of different cultivars of carnation was resulted at the range of 3.6 days to 10.1 days . .
Significantly, the longest vase life was resulted at pulse treatment with STS (9.4 days)
followed by sucrose+ HQS (8.1 days) as compared to control (TW) (3.6 days). The
vase life at the vase solutions of tap water + HQS and distilled water + HQS were found
intermediate. The effect of HOS in tap water as well as distilled water was observed
significant for the increased solution uptake and vase life against non-HQS _vas(]1
solutions. The cultivar Helix had the longest vase life (1 0. 1 days) at STS followed by
Nelson at sucrose +HOS (9.9 days). The sucrose + HQS showed maximum total
solution uptake and gave increased vase life and excellent flower quality with highly
turgid and fresh flower. The effect of sucrose + HQS for extending the vase life of
carnation cut flower is attributed to delayed ethylene production since petal in-rolling
was discouraged. In ~ddition, expression of petal color treated with sucrose ·+ HQS was
improved. The effectiveness of STS in prolonging the vase life of carnation cut flowers
was highly apparent, however, harmful effects such as brownish spots on flower petpls ·
were recorded. Also, it contains silver, a heavy metal, which is potent environmental
pollutant; therefore, we coufd suggest sucrose treatment rather than STS pulsing to
increase the vase life of carnation· cut flowers:

This study was carried out to determine an appropriate chemical vase solution
.technology for the increased vase life of carnation cut flowers. The experiment was
conducted in National Agriculture Research Institute, NARC, Lalitpur, Nepal during gh
Juiy 2007 to 28" October 2007. The six different chemical preservatives in . vase
solutions were evaluated to increase the vase life of carnation cut flowers. The vase life
of different cultivars of carnation was resulted at the range of 3.6 days to 10.1 days . .
Significantly, the longest vase life was resulted at pulse treatment with STS (9.4 days)
followed by sucrose+ HQS (8.1 days) as compared to control (TW) (3.6 days). The
vase life at the vase solutions of tap water + HQS and distilled water + HQS were found
intermediate. The effect of HOS in tap water as well as distilled water was observed
significant for the increased solution uptake and vase life against non-HQS _vas(]1
solutions. The cultivar Helix had the longest vase life (1 0. 1 days) at STS followed by
Nelson at sucrose +HOS (9.9 days). The sucrose + HQS showed maximum total
solution uptake and gave increased vase life and excellent flower quality with highly
turgid and fresh flower. The effect of sucrose + HQS for extending the vase life of
carnation cut flower is attributed to delayed ethylene production since petal in-rolling
was discouraged. In ~ddition, expression of petal color treated with sucrose ·+ HQS was
improved. The effectiveness of STS in prolonging the vase life of carnation cut flowers
was highly apparent, however, harmful effects such as brownish spots on flower petpls ·
were recorded. Also, it contains silver, a heavy metal, which is potent environmental
pollutant; therefore, we coufd suggest sucrose treatment rather than STS pulsing to
increase the vase life of carnation· cut flowers: