Effect of Date of Harvest and Floral Preservatives on Vase Life of Cut Flowers in Tuberose ( Polyanthes tuberosa L.) cv. Double

Studies conducted to find out the effect of date of harvesting and floral preservatives on vase life and quality of tuberose cv. Double revealed that among treatments, harvesting on 1^st October (D₈) was better for longer vase life, whereas, 15^th August (D₅) for minimum loss of water, maximum fresh weight of the spike and percentage of opened florets. Similarly, harvesting on 15^th September (D₇) was found better for longest floret longevity as well as loss uptake ratio. In case of floral preservatives, the treatment 500 ppm aluminum sulphate + 4% sucrose (C₆) was found better for longer vase life, maximum uptake of water, lowest loss-uptake ratio and maximum fresh weight of spike, whereas, 400 ppm 8-HQS + 4% sucrose (C₈) for maximum floret longevity and floret circumference as well as maximum percentage of opened and lowest percentage of neck bent florets. The treatment, 50 ppm silver nitrate + 4% sucrose (C₃) exhibited lowest loss of water. In case of interaction effect, 1^st October with 500 ppm aluminum sulphate + 4% sucrose (D₈C₆) was found superior for maximum vase life of spike, highest uptake of water and fresh weight of spike.