Abstract

Nermeen T. Shanan and Emad A. Shalaby

This study was designed to determine the influence of anti-transpiration agents, MgCO3, Na2CO3 and glycerol, at four concentrations (2, 4, 6 and 8 %) on prolonging vase life of Monstera deliciosa cut leaves. For this purpose, two experiments were performed, through seasons 2008 and 2009. Each treatment sprayed three times 2, 4 and 6 days after cutting leaves. The results significantly revealed that glycerol at 2 or 4% extended vase life of M. deliciosa cut leaves by 7-folds of the control (7 days) and better than the other treatments. Also, glycerol treatment at the mentioned concentrations showed the lowest leaf weight reduction rate, as well as water loss rate, which obviously reflected on extending leaf vase life. The response of glycerol on prolonging leaf vase life was accompanied by a decrease in the degradation of pigments and protein as well as decrease the percentage of defense enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) and this correlated with decreasing leaf water loss.