Vol. 84 No: 1

Title:
Aqueous ozone can extend vase-life in cut rose

Authors:
S. ROBINSON, T. GRAHAM, M.A. DIXON and Y. ZHENG

pp: 97-101

Abstract:
In order to quantify the shelf-life response of cut roses when stored in aqueous ozone solutions, cut ‘Pascha’ roses were stored in either de-ionised water or aqueous ozone solutions containing an initial dissolved ozone residual of 5.5 mg l^-1. The results showed that storing cut roses in aqueous ozone solutions (5.5 mg l l^-1; renewed daily) can extend vase-life approx. three-fold, from 5 d to 13 d, with a corresponding improvement in their aesthetic appearance throughout the vase-life of the cut rose stem. Results suggest that vase-life improvements are achieved through a reduction in bacterial populations present in the storage solution. Bacteria accumulate on the cut surface of the stems, thereby reducing their water uptake capacity. Microbial accumulation was reduced by 1.15 log₁₀ CFU g^-1 FW when stems were stored in holding solutions containing 5.5 mg l l^-1 dissolved ozone, with a corresponding increase in water uptake. Roses stored in ozonated water exhibited higher numbers of functional xylem vessels, water uptake, relative water content, relative fresh weight, acid fuchsin uptake rate, leaf stomatal conductance, and net CO₂ assimilation rate, compared to those stored in de-ionised water. The results suggest that ozone can extend cut rose vase-life.

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