Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Efficacy of sodium nitroprusside, a nitric oxide donor, on vase life and postharvest attributes of gladiolus spikes

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Acta Physiologiae Plantarum Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Senescence is the major physiological process that influence the quality of cut flowers. Among cut flowers, gladiolus known for its glamour, perfection and colorful spikes occupies leading position in Indian as well as international markets. Thus, in the present investigation, evaluation of sodium nitroprusside (nitric oxide, NO donor) as holding solution on biochemical and physiological parameters affecting postharvest life of gladiolus spikes (varieties: Punjab Glad-1 and Punjab Glad-2) was done. Gladiolus spikes harvested at tight bud stage were kept in different solutions viz. 50, 100, 150, 200 mg L−1 sodium nitroprusside (SNP); 2% sucrose and 400 mg L−1 aluminium sulphate; water as control. The holding solution of 100 mg L−1 SNP extended the vase life of Punjab Glad-1 from 7 days in control to 13 days and Punjab Glad-2 from 6 days in control to 11 days. The results revealed that holding solution @SNP 100 mg L−1 improved membrane stability index and relative water content, increased total soluble sugars, total soluble proteins, catalase and peroxidase activity during floret development more in Punjab Glad-1 than Punjab Glad-2 that enhanced the number of floret opened at one time, percent floret opened, floret size, solution absorbed and ultimately vase life. Thus, 100 mg L−1 SNP as a holding solution could improve the postharvest quality of gladiolus spikes by influencing biochemical and physiological attributes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abu Qamar S, Moustafa K, Tran LS (2017) Mechanisms and strategies of plant defense against Botrytis cinerea. Crit Rev Biotechnol 37:262–274

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aebig J, Kamo K, Hsu H (2005) Biolistic inoculation of gladiolus with cucumber mosaic cucumovirus. J Virol Meth 123:89–94

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ahmad P, Abdel Latef AA, Hashem A, Abd Allah EF, Gucel S, Tran LS (2016) Nitric oxide mitigates salt stress by regulating levels of osmolytes and antioxidant enzymes in chickpea. Front Plant Sci 7:347

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Arora A, Watanabe S, Ma B, Takada K, Ezura H (2006) A novel ethylene receptor homolog gene isolated from ethylene insensitive flowers of gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflora Hort.). Biochem Biophys Res Commun 351:739–744

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Badiyan D, Wills RBH, Bowyer MC (2004) Use of nitric oxide donor compound to extend the vase life of cut flowers. Hort Sci 39:1371–1372

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Battelli R (2010) Physiological and molecular aspects of flower senescence in Lilium Longiflorum. Dissertation, University of Tuscia

  • Beneh HK, Samsampour D, Zarbakhsh S (2018) Biochemical, physiological changes and antioxidant responses of cut gladiolus flower ‘White Prosperity’ induced by nitric oxide. Adv Hort Sci 32:421–431

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhattacharjee SK, De LC (2006) Postharvest technology of flowers and ornamental plants. Point Publishers, Jaipur, p 440

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowyer MC, Wills RBH (2003) Delaying postharvest senescence of cut flowers using nitric oxide. Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation, Kingston, pp 1–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Chakraborty N, Acharya K (2017) “NO way”! Says the plant to abiotic stress. Plant Gene 11:99–105

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Changli ZLL, Chanyou X (2011) The physiological responses of carnation cut flowers to exogenous nitric oxide. Sci Hortic 127:424–430

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dubois M, Gilles K, Hamilton J, Rebers P, Smith F (1956) Colorimetric method for determination of sugars and related substances. Anal Chem 28:350–365

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dwivedi SK, Arora A, Singh VP, Sairam R, Bhattacharya RC (2016) Effect of sodium nitroprusside on differential activity of antioxidants and expression of SAGs in relation to vase life of gladiolus cut flowers. Sci Hortic 210:158–165

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ebrahimzadeh A, Jiménez S, Da Silva J, Satoh S, Lao MT (2008) Post-harvest physiology of cut carnation flowers. Fresh Produce 2:56–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Gabaldon C, Gomez RLV, Pedreno MA, Ros Barcelo AR (2005) Nitric oxide production by differentiating xylem of Zinnia elegans. New Phytol 163:121–130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gill SS, Tuteja N (2010) Reactive oxygen species and antioxidant machinery in abiotic stress tolerance in crop plants. Plant Physiol Biochem 48:909–930

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gulzar S, Tahir I, Amin I, Frooq S, Sultan SM (2005) Effect of cytokinins on the senescence and longevity of isolated flowers of day lily (Hemerocallis fulva cv. Royal Crown) sprayed with cyclohexamide. Acta Hortic 669:395–403

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hassan F, Ali EF (2014) Longevity and postharvest quality of Rosa hybrida L. cv. “Happy Hour” cut flowers as affected by Silver thiosulphate (STS) treatment. Sci Agric 1:85–91

    Google Scholar 

  • Hatamzadeh A, Hatami M, Ghasemnezhad M (2012) Efficiency of salicylic acid delay petal senescence and extended quality of cut spikes of Gladiolus grandiflora cv. wing’s sensation. Afr J Agric Res 7:540–545

    Google Scholar 

  • Hegazi M (2016) Evaluation of pre-or postharvest application of some minerals and organic agents on the growth, flowering and vase life of Rudbeckiahirta, L. J Agric Sci 8:226–236

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoque TS, Hossain MA, Mostofa MG, Burritt DJ, Fujita M, Tran LSP (2016) Methylglyoxal: an emerging signaling molecule in plant abiotic stress responses and tolerance. Front Plant Sci 7:1341

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hossain MA, Bhattacharjee S, Armin SM, Qian P, Xin W, Li HY, Burritt DJ, Fujita M, Tran LSP (2015) Hydrogen peroxide priming modulates abiotic oxidative stress tolerance: insights from ROS detoxification and scavenging. Front Plant Sci 6:420

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Huang KT, Kao CH (2005) Nitric oxide counteracts the senescence of rice leaves induced by hydrogen peroxide. Bot Bull Acad Sin 46:21–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Khan P, Shahrin S, Taufique T, Mehraj H, Jamal Uddin A (2015) Prolonging vase life of cut rose (Rosa hybrida L. cv. red pearl) through chemical preservatives. J Biosci Agric Res 5:10–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar S, Gupta AK (2013) Influence of arbuscular mycorrhiza, gibberellic acid and kinetin on growth, quality parameters and petal senescence in gladiolus cv. Jessica. Indian J Hortic 70:82–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Leshem YY, Haramaty E (1996) The characterisation and contrasting effects of the nitric oxide free radical in vegetable stress and senescence of Pisum sativum Linn. foliage. J Plant Physiol 148:258–263

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leverentz M, Wagstaff C, Rogers H, Stead A, Chanasut U, Silkowski H, Thomas B, Weichert H, Feussner I, Griffiths G (2002) Characterisation of a novel lipoxygenase-independent senescence mechanism in Alstroemeria peruviana floral tissue. J Plant Physiol 130:273–283

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li H, Huang X, Li J, Liu J, Joyce D, He S (2012) Efficacy of nano-silver in alleviating bacteria-related blockage in cut rose cv: movie Star stems. Postharvest BiolTechnol 74:36–41

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liao WB, Zhang ML, Yu JH (2013) Role of nitric oxide in delaying senescence of cut rose flowers and its interaction with ethylene. Sci Hortic 155:30–38

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu J, He S, Zhang Z, Cao J, Lv P, He S, Cheng G, Joyce DC (2009) Nano-silver pulse treatments inhibit stem-end bacteria on cut gerbera cv: ruikou flowers. Postharvest Biol Technol 54:59–62

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu S, Lu F, Xing R, Zhu J (2011) Structural effects of Fe3O4 nanocrystals on peroxidase-like activity. Chem Eur J 17:620–625

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lowry OH, Rosebrough NJ, Farr AL, Randall RJ (1951) Protein measurement with the folin phenol reagent. J Biol Chem 193:265–275

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lü P, Cao J, He S, Liu J, Li H, Cheng G, Ding Y, Joyce DC (2010) Nano-silver pulse treatments improve water relations of cut rose cv: movie Star flowers. Postharvest Biol Technol 57:196–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macnish AJ, Leonard RT, Borda AM, Nell TA (2010) Genotypic variation in the postharvest performance and ethylene sensitivity of cut rose flowers. Sci Hort 45:790–796

    Google Scholar 

  • Mansee K, Mukherjee D, Seema (2013) Regulation of lipoxygenase and superoxide dismutase activities and longevity of chrysanthemum cut flowers by ethanol and methanol. Indian J Hortic 70:76–81

    Google Scholar 

  • Mansouri H (2012) Salicylic acid and sodium nitroprusside improve postharvest life of chrysanthemums. Sci Hortic 145:29–33

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mortazavi SN, Talebi SF, Naderi RA, Sharafi Y (2011) Regulation of ethylene biosynthesis by nitric oxide and thidiazuron during postharvest of rose. J Med Plants Res 5:5177–5183

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mostofi Y, Rasouli P, Naderi R, Bagheri Marandi GH, Shafiei MR (2010) Effect of nitric oxide and thidiazuron on vase life and some qualitative characteristics of cut carnation flowers (Dianthus caryophyllus cv. Nelson). Iran J Hortic Sci 41:299–307

    Google Scholar 

  • Naing AH, Lee K, Arun M, Lim BK, Kim CK (2017) Characterization of the role of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) involved in long vase life of different carnation cultivars. BMC Plant Biol 17:149

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Perik RRJ, Razé D, Harkema H, Zhong Y, van Doorn WG (2012) Bending in cut Gerbera jamesonii flowers relates to adverse water relations and lack of stem sclerenchyma development, not to expansion of the stem central cavity or stem elongation. Postharvest Biol Technol 74:11–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Premchandra GS, Saneoka H, Ogata S (1990) Cell membrane stability, an indicator of drought tolerance as affected by applied nitrogen in soybean. J Agric Sci Camb 115:63–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prochazkova D, Wilhelmova N (2011) Nitric oxide, reactive nitrogen species and associated enzymes during plant senescence. Nitric Oxide 24:61–65

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rani P, Singh N (2014) Senescence and postharvest studies of cut flowers: a critical review. Pertanika J Trop Agric Sci 32:159–201

    Google Scholar 

  • Reid MS, Jiang CZ (2012) Postharvest biology and technology of cut flowers and potted plants. In: Janick J (ed) Horticultural Reviews. Wiley, Hoboken, pp 1–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Saeed T, Hassan I, Abbasi NA, Jilani G (2016) Antioxidative activities and qualitative changes in gladiolus cut flowers in response to salicylic acid application. Sci Hortic 210:236–241

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salachna P, Byczyńska A (2017) Effect of nitric oxide and production location on vase life of cut Eucomis ‘Sparkling Burgundy’ flowers. World Sci News 83:229–234

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salachna P, Zawadzińska A, Wierzbiński L, Senderek W (2016) Enhancing growth in Eucomisautumnalis (Mill.) Chitt. seedlings with exogenous application of nitric oxide. J Hortic Res 24:13–17

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sankhla N, Mac Kay WA, Davis TD (2003) Effect of nitric oxide on postharvest performance of perennial phlox cut inflorescences. Acta Hortic 628:843–847

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Särkkä L (2005) Yield, quality, and vase life of cut roses in year round greenhouse production. Dissertation, University of Helsinki

  • Selvaraj KSV, Bharathi A, Swaminathan V (2014) Effect of sucrose and different chemical combinations to improve post-harvest keeping in tuberose spikes. J Proc Post Harvest Technol 5:16

    Google Scholar 

  • Serek M, Sisler EC, Reid MS (1995a) Effects of 1—MCP on the vase life, ethylene response of cut flowers. Plant Growth Regul 16:93–97

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Serek M, Sisler EC, Reid MS (1995b) 1-Methylcyclopropene, a novel gaseous inhibitor of ethylene action, improves the life of fruits, cut flowers and potted plants. Acta Hortic 394:337–345

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seyf M, Khalighi A, Mostofi Y, Naderi R (2012) Study on the effect of aluminum sulfate treatment on postharvest life of the cut rose ‘Boeing’ (Rosa hybrid cv. Boeing). J Hortic Biotechnol 16:128–132

    Google Scholar 

  • Shabanian S, Esfahani MN, Karamian R, Tran LSP (2018) Physiological and biochemical modifications by postharvest treatment with sodium nitroprusside extend vase life of cut flowers of two gerbera cultivars. Postharvest Biol Technol 137:1–8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shan C, Zhao X (2015) Lanthanum delays the senescence of Lilium longiflorum cut flowers by improving antioxidant defense system and water retaining capacity. Sci Hortic 197:516–520

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shannon LM, Kay E, Lew JY (1966) Peroxidase isozymes from horse radish roots: Isolation and physical properties. J Biol Chem 241:2166–2172

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma S, Pareek S, Sagar NA, Valero D, Serrano M (2017) Modulatory effects of exogenously applied polyamines on postharvest physiology, antioxidant system and shelf life of fruits: a review. Int J Mol Sci 18:E1789

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Singh VP, Jegadheesan A (2003) Effect of α-lipoic acid on senescence in Gladiolus flowers. Indian J Plant Physiol 516–521

  • Talebi SF, Mortazavi SN, Sharafi Y (2013) Extending vase life of Rosa (Cv. ‘Sensiro’) cut flowers with nitric oxide. Int J Agron Plant Prod 4:1178–1183

    Google Scholar 

  • Teranishi Y, Tanaka A, Osumi M, Fukui S (1974) Catalase activities of hydrocarbon utilizing Candida yeasts. Agric Biochem 38:1213–1216

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tian S, Qin G, Li B, Wang Q, Meng X (2007) Effects of salicylic acid on disease resistance and postharvest decay control of fruits. Stewart Postharvest Rev 3:1–7

    Google Scholar 

  • Truter W, Vardien W, Hoffman EW (2018) Investigating the potential of sodium nitroprusside, a nitric oxide donor, to extend the vase life of Protea cut flower products, VII International Conference on Managing Quality in Chains (MQUIC2017) and II International Symposium on Ornamentals in association with XIII International Protea Research Symposium. Acta Hortic 1201:439–446

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Doorn WG (2012) Water relations of cut flowers: an update. In: Janick J (ed) Horticultural reviews. Wiley, Hoboken, pp 55–106

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Vieira LM, Pereira AM, Finger FL (2016) Longevity of Epidendrum ibaguense Kunth inflorescences treated with nitric oxide. Ornam Hortic 22:296–300

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weatherly PE (1950) Studies on the water relations of the cotton plant. I. The field measurement of water deficits in the leaves. New Phytol 49:81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yamada T, Ichimura K, van Doorn WG (2007) Relationship between petal abscission and programmed cell death in Prunusyedoensis and Delphinium belladonna. Planta 226:1195–1105

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Yap YM, Loh CS, Ong BL (2008) Regulation of flower development in Dendrobium crumenatum by changes in carbohydrate contents, water status and cell wall metabolism. Sci Hortic 119:59–66

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zeng CL, Liu L, Xu GQ (2011) The physiological responses of carnation cut flowers to exogenous nitric oxide. Sci Hortic 127:424–430

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou Q, Ma C, Cheng S, Wei B, Liu X, Ji S (2014) Changes in antioxidative metabolism accompanying pitting development in stored blueberry fruit. Postharvest Biol Technol 88:88–95

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zottini M, Formentin E, Scattolin M, Carimi F, Lo Schiavo F, Terzi M (2002) Nitric oxide affects plant mitochondrial functionality in vivo. FEBS Lett 515:75–78

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We are thankful to the Heads of Departments of Botany and Floriculture and Landscaping, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana for providing infrastructure for conducting the experiments.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Isha Mittal

    Present address: Department of Biological Sciences, Life Sciences Complex, Building A, 1511 West Sycamore, Denton, TX, 76201, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141001, India

    Isha Mittal

  2. Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 141001, India

    Shalini Jhanji & K. K. Dhatt

Authors
  1. Isha Mittal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shalini Jhanji
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. K. K. Dhatt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Isha Mittal.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors do not have any conflict of interest.

Additional information

Communicated by P. K. Nagar.

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Mittal, I., Jhanji, S. & Dhatt, K.K. Efficacy of sodium nitroprusside, a nitric oxide donor, on vase life and postharvest attributes of gladiolus spikes. Acta Physiol Plant 43, 108 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-021-03275-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-021-03275-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation