Longevity of Consolida ajacis inflorescences influenced by pulsing with sucrose and silver tiosulfate.


The present work had the objective to evaluate the influence of silver tiosulfate (STS) in combination or not with sucrose on Consolida ajacis inflorescence vase life. The inflorescences were standardised in length and flower opening and than pulsed for 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes in 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% sucrose or with 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 mM STS, and the control treatments with distilled water. In a second set of experiments the inflorescences were pulsed with 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 mM STS combined with 5% sucrose for 30 minutes. Treatment with sucrose did not affect the vase life or flower abscission, when compared with the control. Pulsing the inflorescences with STS, in combination or not with 5% sucrose, were effective in extending the flower vase life and reducing flower abscission and wilting. Pulsing the inflorescences with 1.0 mM of STS mixed or not with 5% sucrose for 30 minutes increased flower longevity from approximately 8 days (control) to about 15 days, and fell down the abscission from 66.9% to values bellow to 17.5%.