Investigating the possibility of improving the shelf life of red old rose cut flowers by using some treatments

In recent years, global attention to environmental conservation has led to research into the use of medicinal plants and organic materials in maintaining the post-harvest quality of horticultural products. The present study was conducted to find natural and suitable alternatives such as extracts of medicinal plants (mint, thyme, savory and rosemary), humic acid and S-carvone to extend the post-harvest life of cut rose flowers and their potential to replace hazardous chemical compounds such as silver thiosulfate. The effects of concentrations of 1, 5‎/2, 5, 5‎/7 and 10% plant extracts, 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg/L humic acid, 1‎/0, 2‎/0, 3‎/0, 4‎/0 and 5‎/0 mM S-carvone and 1 mM silver thiosulfate on lifespan, relative fresh weight, flower diameter and chlorophyll content were investigated. The experiment was conducted based on a completely randomized design with 5 replications. The results showed that samples treated with 1 mM silver thiosulfate and 50 mg/L humic acid significantly increased the postharvest life of cut rose (26 and 24 days, respectively) compared to the control (4‎/17). In addition, a concentration of 1‎/0 mM S-carvone also had a significant and positive effect on the lifespan of cut cut rose. Samples treated with 3‎/0 mM S-carvone in the initial days and 1 mM silver thiosulfate in the final days (17th and 19th) had the highest relative fresh weight. However, herbal extracts of 1% mint and 5‎/7% savory reduced the post-harvest life of cut rose flowers compared to the control. The 10% mint concentration showed a negative and significant effect on the diameter of rose flowers in the second and third measurements. Also, in the last two measurements, the sample exposed to 1 mM silver thiosulfate had the largest diameter. No significant difference was observed in terms of chlorophyll content in the treatments used. Overall, these results showed that silver thiosulfate treatment still holds the first place in increasing the lifespan of rose cut flowers, but humic acid and S-carvone treatments can also be suitable alternatives to this inorganic substance, with a difference of 6‎/6 and 6‎/4, respectively, compared to the control.