Professional Documents
Culture Documents
M.S. Islam, H. Mehraj, M.Z.K. Roni, M. Mahasen and A.F.M. Jamal Uddin*1
M.S. Islam, H. Mehraj, M.Z.K. Roni, M. Mahasen and A.F.M. Jamal Uddin (2013). Influence of Sucrose and Ascorbic
Acid on Vase Life of Red Ginger (Alpinia purpurata Vieill.). Bangladesh Res. Pub. J. 8(1): 104-106. Retrieve from
http://www.bdresearchpublications.com/admin/journal/upload/1308110/1308110.pdf
Abstract
Red ginger (Alpinia purpurata Vieill.) is an ornamental evergreen, year-round,
perennial herb has showy inflorescences of bright red colored bracts which are the
valuable part. Flower stalks of red ginger are attractive cut flower can also be used
in floral arrangements have long vase life, which is limited by bract browning.
Present study was carried out to increase the vase life to the highest consequently,
popularize as cut flower. An extension of vase life is achieved through using sucrose
and ascorbic acid. Influence of various combinations of sucrose and ascorbic acid
was studied and appropriate concentrations were standardized. Hence, the
extended vase lives explore red ginger as prospective commercial cut flower in
Bangladesh.
http://www.bdresearchpublications.com/journal/
Islam et al. 106
The post harvest physiology of Red ginger (Alpinia purpurata) has not been investigated in
much detail. The end of vase life is particularly determined by browning in the middle of
bracts (Jaroenkit and Paull, 2003). As in this study it was determined by discoloration and
drying up of bracts, shrinkage of flower stalk and fungal attack.
Harvesting of flower stalks removes the sources of nutrients, photosynthates,
hormones, water etc. and lack of carbohydrates cause of bract discoloration and hence,
browning. Supply of sugars promotes vase life of cut flowers and retard flower senescence
(Doi and Reid, 1995). Sucrose delays petal sensitivity to ethylene and delay the initiation of
climacteric ethylene production hence, senescence (Mayak and Dilley, 1976). Sucrose
treatment increases longevity of individual florets by increasing the pool of respiratory
substrate (Halevy and Mayak, 1979). However, higher concentration of sucrose promoted
the profuse fungal growth hence, reduce the longevity of flowers.
On the other hand, vase life of the flowers treated with ascorbic acid was
significantly longer (Leamtim et al., 2008). Ascorbic acid is known to be acidifying as well
as inhibiting many fungi and bacteria (Satoh et al., 2005). Conversely, ascorbic acid
improves the uptake of vase solution as they restricts blockage in xylem hence, vase life.
Conclusion
In conclusion, flower stalks of red ginger are attractive cut flower can also be used in
floral arrangements have long vase life, which is limited by bract browning. An extension
of vase life is achieved in red ginger through using sucrose and ascorbic acid. Hence, the
extended vase lives explore red ginger as prospective commercial cut flower in
Bangladesh.
References
Broschat, T.K. and H. Donselman. (1988). Production and postharvest culture of red ginger
in South Florida. Proc. Florida State Hortic. Soc., 101: 326-327.
Criley, R.A. (1996). Techniques of cultivation in the ornamental Zingiberaceae. Bul.
Heliconia Soc. Intl., 8: 7-11.
Criley, R.A. (1989). Development of Heliconia and Alpinia in Hawaii: cultivar selection and
culture. Acta. Hort., 246: 247-258.
Doi, M. and M.S. Reid. (1995). Sucrose improves the postharvest life of cut flowers of a
hybrid Limonium. Hort. Science. 30(5): 1058-1060.
Gomez, A. K. and A. A. Gomez, (1984). Statistical Procedures for Agricultural Research,
2nd Ed., John Wiley and Sons, Inc., NY. pp. 8-20.
Halevy, A.H. and S. Mayak. 1979. Senescence and postharvest physiology of cut flowers.
Part 1. Hort. Rev., 1: 204-236.
Jaroenkit, T. and R.E. Paull. (2003). Postharvest handling of Heliconia, red ginger and bird-
of-paradise. Hort. Technol., 13: 259-266.
Leamtim, P., M. Buanong and S. Kanlayanarat. (2008). Role of Ascorbic acid on vase life of
red ginger (Alpinia purpurata Vieill.) Acta Hort. (ISHS) 804:287-290.
http://www.actahort.org/books/804/804_39.htm
Mayak, S. and D.R. Dilley. (1976). Effect of sucrose on response of cut carnation to kinetin,
ethylene and abscisic acid. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci., 101: 583-585.
Prabhu Kumar, K.M., M. Sabu, V.P. Thomas, G. Nimisha and K.V. Mohan. (2010). Red
Ginger: A Promising Crop for Floriculturists. Plant Hort. Tech. 10(1): 40-43.
Satoh, S., H. Nukui and T. Inokuma. (2005). A method for determining the vase life of cut
spray carnation flowers. J. Appl. Hort., 7(1): 8-10.
http://www.bdresearchpublications.com/journal/