Antimicrobial effect of free available chlorine on postharvest life of cut rose 'Brut'

This study was conducted to investigate the antimicrobial effect of freely available chlorine (FAC) on the vase life of cut rose 'Brut' (Rosa hybrida L.). Postharvest treatments to extend the vase life of cut roses were divided into holding solution treatment and pulsing solution treatment. In holding solution treatment, the cut roses were treated with the preservative solutions containing FAC (0, 10, 20, and 40 mg·L^-1) and sucrose (0 and 2%, w/v). In pulsing solution treatment, cut roses were dipped into the FAC solutions of 100, 200, and 400 mg·L^-1 for 10 seconds. The longest vase life of cut roses was observed in the holding solution with FAC 20 mg·L^-1 as 12 days, followed by pulsing with 400 mg·L^-1 as 11 days, which were four or five days longer than the control. In addition, relative fresh weight and water uptake were the highest in the holding solutions with FAC 20 and 40 mg·L^-1. The antimicrobial effect of FAC in vase solution was lasted for eight days after treatment, which was offset by sucrose addition. FAC contents in the FAC holding solution mixed with sucrose were exhausted by 88% two days after treatment, whereas only 15% of FAC was reduced in the holding solution without sucrose. This study indicated that FAC can be applied to extension of the postharvest life of cut roses by antimicrobial activity.