Abstract
Effect of ethanol (ET) on vase life of Bougainvillea was investigated at the Plant Physiology Section, Horticulture Research Centre, Bangladesh Agricultural Research institute (BARI), between December and February of 2010-2011. The optimum concentration of ET required for increasing bougainvillea flower longevity and delaying senescence under storage condition was determined. Young and fresh flowers were randomly harvested from 4-year-old bougainvillea trees. The flowers were treated with 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 30, 40, and 50% ET. The longest vase life of 7 days was recorded for flowers treated with 8% ET, followed by vase life of 6 days for flowers treated with 12% ET. The vase life of control flowers was 4 days. High concentrations (16-50%) of ET drastically reduced the vase life of bougainvillea. The quantum yield (Fv/Fm) was higher in flowers treated with 8% and 12% ET than in those treated with other ET concentrations. Our results suggested that the vase life of bougainvillea flower was significantly affected by ethanol treatment, and the longevity was higher in flowers treated with 8% and 12% ET than in those treated with water (control) and other ET concentrations.
