The Vase Life of Cut Gerbera Flowers is Extended by Combined Treatment with Gibberellin A 3 and Calcium Chloride

Treatment with calcium chloride (CaCl 2 ) is known to suppress the occurrence of flower stem bending and extend the vase life of cut gerbera. To clarify whether vase life extension by CaCl 2 is improved by combined treatment with gibberellin A 3 (GA 3 ), the effect of treatment with 50 mg<middle dot>L -1 GA 3 , 5 g<middle dot>L -1 CaCl 2 or in combination on the vase life of the cut gerbera `Minou' was investigated. To inhibit bacterial proliferation, which is known to shorten vase life, an isothiazoline antimicrobial compound was included in the vase solution. Treatment with GA 3 alone delayed the opening of tubular florets and increased the area of unopen florets, but stem elongation which led to stem bending shortened vase life. Treatment with GA 3 in combination with CaCl 2 suppressed the occurrence of stem bending. Combined treatment with GA 3 and CaCl 2 extended the vase life of cut gerbera more than treatment with CaCl 2 alone. To clarify whether GA 3 delays petal senescence, the effect of GA 3 at 10 and 50 mg<middle dot>L -1 on petal senescence was investigated using shortened stems. GA 3 at both concentrations significantly delayed petal senescence. Combined treatment with GA 3 and CaCl 2 also significantly extended the vase life of the cut gerbera `Kimsey' and `Sandy'. It was concluded that combined treatment with GA 3 and CaCl 2 is a suitable treatment for extending the vase life of cut gerbera.