Effect of nitric oxide on vase-life of giant chincherinchee … · 2018. 11. 13. · Figure 6 shows that SNP used in the preservative solutions had a significant effect on the final

Available online at www.worldscientificnews.com

( Received 25 August 2018; Accepted 11 September 2018; Date of Publication 12 September 2018 )

WSN 110 (2018) 13-22 EISSN 2392-2192

Effect of nitric oxide on vase-life of giant chincherinchee (Ornithogalum saundersiae Baker)

Andżelika Byczyńska

Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Environmental Management and Agriculture, West Pomeranian University of Technology, Szczecin, Poland

*E-mail address: [email protected]

ABSTRACT

This research investigated the effect of different concentrations of sodium nitroprusside (SNP, a

donor of nitric oxide) on the longevity of cut giant chincherinchee (Ornithogalum saundersiae)

inflorescences. Postharvest quality of inflorescences was positively affected by SNP treatment.

Application of SNP enhanced the vase-life, final fresh weight and diameter of inflorescences. The best

quality inflorescences were obtained when the stems held in 100 µmol SNP. These are the first

published results that indicate that nitric oxide positively improved the longevity and quality of cut O.

saundersiae inflorescences.

Keywords: bulbous plants, cut flower, post-harvest longevity, sodium nitroprusside, Ornithogalum

saundersiae

1. INTRODUCTION

The demand for decorative plants is constantly growing as a result of the increase in the

standard of living of the population of many countries. Each year, the offer of bulbous plants

continues to be enriched, because the novelties always enjoy interest and higher prices are

obtained. The genus Ornithogalum L. is a valuable group of bulbous plants, which should be

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World Scientific News 110 (2018) 13-22

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permanently included in the market offer. Scientific classification of genus Ornithogalum is

presented in Table 1.

Table 1. Taxonomy of genus Ornithogalum L.

Kingdom Plantae

Clade Angiosperms

Clade Monocots

Order Asparagales

Family Asparagaceae

Subfamily Scilloideae

Tribe Ornithogaleae

Genus Ornithogalum

Of particular interest is giant chincherinchee (Ornithogalum saundersiae Baker)

naturally occurring in southern Africa (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Distribution of Ornithogalum saundersiae [1]


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O. saundersiae has white flowers with a characteristic black-olive ovary, grouped by

several dozens in magnificent inflorescences set on long, leafless stems. Inflorescences are

commodity on the cut flower market [2,3]. However, very little is known of the postharvest of

cut O. saundersiae flowers.

Figure 2. The appearance of Ornithogalum saundersiae plants

Nitric oxide belongs to molecules that regulate various physiological and

morphogenetic processes [4-7]. Nitric oxide affects the growth and development of plants,

regulates metabolism, and additionally induces resistance to disease and stress [8-10].

Additionally, nitric oxide as novel agent can extend vase-life of cut flowers [11-13]. In

practice, sodium nitroprusside (SNP) is the most widely used nitric oxide donor compound

[14]. SNP was found to be effective in delaying the senescence of cut flowers in Eucomis

[15], gerbera [16], Protea [17] and gladiolus [18]. However, there is no available information

on the use SNP extending the vase-life of cut flowers such as Ornithogalum.


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The present experiments were designed to determine the effect of sodium nitroprusside

(donor of nitric oxide) on the longevity and quality of cut O. saundersiae inflorescences.

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

O. saundersiae inflorescences (Figure 2) were grown in unheated high plastic tunnel of

West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Poland (53° 25' N, 14° 32' E, 25 m

asl.). The bulbs were planted in 100 cm wide beds, at a space equal to double diameter of the

bulbs. The pH and the content of macro elements in soil are presented in Table 2.

Table 2. Results of chemical analysis of soil used in investigation

pHH2O

Mineral element (mg L)

N-NO3 P K Ca Mg

6.2 189 102 348 1780 179

In mid June the stems were cut randomly at 9:00-11:00 h to a length of 60 cm and taken

immediately to the laboratory. After recording the initial fresh weight using an electronic

scale electronic (RADWAG PS 200/2000/C/2), inflorescences were placed in glass vases

filled with tap water (Table 3) or solution with 50 and 100 µmol sodium nitroprusside (SNP,

C5FeN6Na2O; molar mass 261.918) (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Structure of sodium nitroprusside


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Each treatment involved 5 replications per 4 inflorescences (Figure 4). Solutions were

not renewed during the trial. The inflorescences were kept in a room with controlled

environment (20 ± 2 °C, 60-65 % humidity RH, 12 µmol m-2 s-1 light intensity) under a daily

light for 12 h d-1.

Table 3. Chemical composition of tap water used in investigation

Element Value

N-NO3 (mg dm-3) 1.46

P (mg dm-3) 1.5

K (mg dm-3) 6.4

Ca (mg dm-3) 94

Mg (mg dm-3) 16

Na (mg dm-3) 22

Cl (mg dm-3) 21

Cu (mg dm-3) 0.4

Zn (mg dm-3) 0.4

Fe (mg dm-3) 1.2

Electrolytic conductivity mS cm-1 1.55

HCO3ˉ (mg dm-3) 192

Each treatment involved 5 replications per 4 inflorescences. Solutions were not renewed

during the trial. The inflorescences were kept in a room with controlled environment (20

±2 °C, 60-65 % humidity RH, 12 µmol m-2 s-1 light intensity) under a daily light for 12 h d-1.

The inflorescences were observed every day during vase period. Vase life was

expressed in days. On the day when the decorative value of the inflorescences was lost, their

fresh weight and diameter were assessed.

Results were statistically verified using the analysis of variance model using Statistica

13.0 software, and the obtained means were grouped using Tukey's test at the significance

level p ≤ 0.05.


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Figure 4. Development stage of individual inflorescence of giant chincherinchee

(Ornithogalum saundersiae Baker). The inflorescence were harvested at when

the first flower opened

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Many studies have been conducted on the effect of biocides on the vase-life and

postharvest quality of cut flowers [19-20]. In this work, treatment of sodium nitroprusside

(SNP) significantly extended the vase-life of cut O. saundersiae inflorescences compared

with the control (Figure 5).

The vase-life exhibited a dose-dependent effect to SNP (Figure 5). The longest vase-

life were obtained with inflorescences in 100 µmol SNP (33.5 d). Inflorescences held in water

(control) had the shortes vase-life (23.3 d). These results are in agreement with our

preliminary studies indicated that 100 μM SNP enhanced vase-life of cut Eucomis comosa

'Sparkling Burgundy' inflorescence [15].

Figure 6 shows that SNP used in the preservative solutions had a significant effect on

the final fresh weigh of cut O. saundersiae inflorescences. In comparison with their respective

control treated with water, cut inflorescences treated with SNP showed an increase in final

fresh weight by 30% at 50 µmol SNP and by 34% at 100 µmol SNP. In addition, at the end of

the vase life, stems placed in 100 µmol SNP had the greatest flower diameters (Figure 7). The

improvement in vase life and fresh weigh in solution containing SNP might be due to the fact

that NO probably protecting cut flowers against water deficit stress and ethylene action [14,

21-22].


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Figure 5. Effect of different concentration of sodium nitroprusside (SNP, donor of nitric

oxide) on vase life of individual inflorescences (days) of cut giant chincherinchee

(Ornithogalum saundersiae Baker). Date are presented as mean values (n = 4). Columns

denoted by a different letter are statistically different at p ≤ 0.05.


oxide) on final fresh weight of individual inflorescences (g) of cut giant chincherinchee



c

b

a

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Control (water) 50 µmol SNP 100 µmol SNP

Treatments

Vase l

ife o

f in

div

idu

al

infl

ore

scen

ces

(days)

aa

b

0

5

10

15

20

25


Treatments

Fin

al fr

es

h w

eig

ht

of

ind

ivid

ua

l

infl

ore

sc

en

ce

s

(g)


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oxide) on diameter of individual inflorescences (cm) of cut giant chincherinchee



Figure 8. Visible effect of sodium nitroprusside (SNP, donor of nitric oxide) on the display

quality of cut individual inflorescence of giant chincherinchee (Ornithogalum saundersiae

Baker) by the 14 day vase-life period. Left to right: control (water), 50 µmol SNP, and 100

µmol SNP

cb

a

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9


Treatments

Dia

me

ter

of

ind

ivid

ua

l in

flo

res

ce

nc

es

(cm

)


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4. CONCLUSION

In conclusion, SNP treatments extension vase-life of cut O. saundersiae inflorescences.

Use of 100 µmol SNP in vase solution was the best treatment in preserving the best quality of

cut O. saundersiae inflorescences. The current state of knowledge does not explain how SNP

affect O. saundersiae vase-life, therefore, it requires further research.

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Effect of nitric oxide on vase-life of giant chincherinchee … · 2018. 11. 13. · Figure 6 shows that SNP used in the preservative solutions had a significant effect on the final