ABSTRACT:Two separated experiments were conducted at the Postharvest Lab of Ornamental Plants and Landscape Gardening Res. Dept., Hort. Res. Inst., Giza, Egypt during 2012 and 2013 seasons to study the response of the fresh inflorescences/heads of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. cv. Sunrich Orange) either to some preservative solutions under the ambient conditions, viz. distilled water (control), sucrose at 10, 20 and 30 g/l levels, glucose at 3, 8 and 15 g/l levels, chelated calcium at 20, 30 and 50 g/l levels and glucerol at 20 and 50 g/l levels in the first experiment or to the main 3 important factors of transportation, storage system (wet or dry), cool storage temperature (0 or 5 °C) and storage period (5 or 7 days) in the second one. The previous 3 factors were combined factorially to obtain the different interactions among them. The flowering stalks after wet or dry storage were held in graduated cylinders filled with about 350 ml of deionized water under the room temperature till the end of shelf life.The obtained results of the first experiment indicated that all preservative solutions improved the means of water uptake, the percent of change in flower head fresh weight, flower head diameter, vase life and total soluble sugars content in petals with various significant levels as compared to control means in both seasons. However, the superiority was for holding in 50 g/l chelated-Ca solution, that gave in the two seasons the utmost high values over the other solutions in most parameters mentioned before. The second position was occupied by preserving the flowering stems in 30 g/l sucrose solution, which improved means of some characters to values closely near to those of the super treatment. So, for elongating the vase life and keeping quality of sunflower cv. Sunrich Orange heads, it is recommended to holding them either in 50 g/l chelated Ca or in 30 g/l sucrose one.In the second experiment, the results have shown that dry storage system recorded better results than wet storage one, especially in water uptake and flower head diameter traits. Storing the flowering stems at 0 °C raised water uptake and vase life means to be more than those of storage at 5 °C in the two seasons, while storage at 5 °C caused only a higher increment in flower head diameter. In general, storage for 7 days scored higher means of water uptake, the percent of change in flower head fresh weight, flower head diameter and vase life than storage for 5 days in both seasons. Regarding the total soluble sugars content in the petals, it was not affected markedly by storage system, temperature and period with few exceptions in the two seasons. On the other hand, effect of interaction treatments on the previous stated parameters was fluctuated, where dry storage at 0 °C for 7 days Ola A. Amin 168 recorded the highest means of water uptake and vase life, while dry storage at 5 °C for 7 days gave only the widest diameter of flower head. The wet storage at either 0 or 5 °C for 7 days scored the highest content of total soluble sugars, whil...

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Nowadays, the most of investigations are directed towards the using of natural materials for reducing pollution environment. So, this study was consummated at Post-Harvest Lab. of Floriculture Dept., Hort. Res. Inst., Giza, Egypt during 2012 and 2013 seasons to study the effect of some holding solutions, viz. distilled water (control), calcium chloride (1 & 3 g/l), calcium claw (1 & 3 g/l), egg shell (0.5 & 1.5 g/l), oysters (0.5 & 1.5 g/l), humic acid (50 & 150 g/l) and three doses of gamma irradiation (100, 200 & 400 Gy) on longevity of flower heads (vase life), water uptake, water loss, relative fresh weight, dry weight and flower diameter of Gerbera jamesonii, cv. Rosalin & Express cut flowers. The obtained results cleared that application of CaCl 2 (1 or 3 g/l) with HQ 0.2 g/l and 20 g/l sucrose resulted in a great extension in vase life and water uptake more than other treatments. Rosalin cultivar recorded significant increase in longevity, water uptake comparing to gerbera cut flowers of cv. Express during the two seasons. Gamma ray (200 Gy) recorded the least rate of water loss in cv. Rosalin in the two seasons. Superiority was for the treatment with oysters (1.5 g/l) in improvement of relative fresh weight in both seasons followed by gamma ray (200 Gy), also gamma irradiation at the doses 200 Gy plus CaCl 2 at 1 g/l + sucrose at 20 g/l significantly increased dry weight of the two cultivars Rosalin and Express followed by claw (1 g/l). All treatments gave higher record in comparison with control for diameter. The present research indicated that the application of CaCl 2 (1 g/l) with HQ 0.2 g/l and 20 g/l sucrose after exposure of cut flowers to irradiation with gamma at (200 Gy) maximizes flower diameter. Results showed that, treating with CaCl 2 at 3 g/l + HQ at 0.2 g/l and suc. at 20 g/l, or gamma rays at 200 Gy + CaCl 2 at 1 g/l + HQ at 2 g/l + Sucrose at 20 g/l registered the highest increments in chlorophyll a in the stems and soluble sugars in the stems and petals. It is concluded that the use of the holding solution containing calcium chloride at 3 g/l plus hydroxyqenolin plus sucrose alone or after irradiation with gamma at 200 Gy gave the maximum vase life.