Chlorine Dioxide Treatments Extend the Vase Life of Exported Cut Roses

This study investigated the effect of applying chlorine dioxide (ClO2) on the vase life of exportedcut roses. The roses (Rosa hybrida L. ‘Beast’) were treated in a holding solution (HS) treatment oftap water (TW, control), distilled water (DW), 2% sucrose, 4 μL·L-1 ClO2, 4 μL·L-1 ClO2 + 2%sucrose, 200 μL·L-1 8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulfoonic acid (8-HQS) + 2% sucrose, and a pulsingsolution (PS) treatment of 50 μL·L-1 ClO2 for 10 seconds. An HS of 4 μL·L-1 ClO2 or 4 μL·L-1 ClO2+ 2% sucrose and PS of 50 μL·L-1 ClO2 extended vase life 0.3 to 2.6 days more than the control (TWand DW), and the effect was greatest in PS. Initial weight was maintained until day 6 after treatmentin an HS of 8-HQS + sucrose and sucrose, and day 8 after treatment in an HS of TW, DW, a PS of50 μL·L-1 ClO2, and a PS of 50 μL·L-1 ClO2 + an HS of 4 μL·L-1 ClO2 with sucrose, and day 10 aftertreatment in HS of 4 μL·L-1 ClO2 and ClO2 + sucrose. Vase solution uptake was higher in a PS andHS of ClO2 than in sucrose and 8-HQS, respectively, 6 days after treatment. Bacteria in the vasesolution without stems were detected continuously in the HS of TW, DW, and sucrose at 1.4 × 104,3.8 × 104, and 1.4 ×105 CFU/L, but not in the HS of ClO2, ClO2 + sucrose, and 8-HQS + sucrose 6days after treatment. Bacteria in the vase solution with stems were detected in TW, DW, and sucroseat levels of 8.0×104, 1.4×105, and 6.8×105 CFU/L, respectively, 6 days after treatment, but thesterilization effect of ClO2, ClO2 + sucrose, and 8-HQS + sucrose continued until 8 days aftertreatment. Treatment with an HS of 4 μL·L-1 ClO2 + 2% sucrose or a PS of 50 μL·L-1 ClO2 for 10seconds in an export container was simulated in the laboratory for 2 days to a cooperative sortingfacility from a rose greenhouse and then for 4 days to an auction market in Japan from a cooperativesorting facility in Korea. The vase life of roses in HS + HS, HS + TW, PS + TW, PS + PS, and TW+ HS was 18.7, 18.0, 17.7, 17.2, and 14.3 days, respectively. The relative fresh weight was thelowest in the TW + HS at 2 days after treatment. Therefore, for the export process of cut roses, HSof ClO2 + sucrose and PS of ClO2 were effective for 2 days after harvest, and HS + HS maintainedboth the sterilization effect in the vase solution and a high relative fresh weight. KCI Citation Count: 0