The vase life and quality of cut Gerbera jamesonii cv. ' Rosalin' flowers are affected by natural essential oils (in normal and nano forms) and nano-silver particles

Abstract: Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii, Asteraceae), is a perennial important commercial cut-flower crop. A common concern with gerbera cut flowers is short vase life, which is caused by neck bending and other factors. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of thyme, clove, and caraway essential oils, as well as nano-silver particles, on vase life and some parameters of gerbera cv. 'Rosalin' cut flowers. A factorial experiment was conducted with essential oils as the first factor (at 25 and 50 mg/L) and Nano-silver as the second factor (at 5 and 10 mg/L), with distilled water ÿas the control. Vase solution uptake, relative fresh weight, flower vase life, neck bending, enzyme activity of polyphenol oxidase and catalase, anthocyanin pigment, and phenols were estimated. The results showed that essential oils had a positive effect on vase life and vase solution uptake, as well as reduced neck bending, with caraway and clove oils in normal form at 50 and 25 mg/L, respectively, being the most effective treatments. Similarly, catalase levels increased significantly. Nano-silver particles, on the other hand, had no effect on neck bending. Nonetheless, there was a significant effect on vase life and vase solution uptake.