Effect of CaCl₂ Application on Antioxidative Enzyme Activities of Cut Flowers

Abstract

CaCl₂ has been known to have an ability to suppress the senescence of cut flowers. In the present study, investigated the effect of CaCl₂ on the antioxidative enzyme activities in cut flowers of Rosa hybrida and Dendrobium phalaenopsis during postharvest storage. The activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase in the cut flowers with treatment of 45 mM CaCl₂ in vase water were higher than those without CaCl₂ during storage. These results suggest that calcium ion can contribute to the quality maintenance of cut flowers through activating the antioxidative enzyme activities.