Leaves of the Italian arum (Arum italicum Mill.) were conditioned and stored. The conditioning in aqueous solution of gibberellic acid at a concentration of 100 mg/dm3 lasted for 12 h. Use was made of Gibrescol 10 MG containing 10% gibberellic acid (GA3). Next the leaves were placed in distilled water in a cold room where the temperature was +5°C and relative humidity was 90%. The control consisted of leaves placed in distilled water in room with a temperature 18-20°C. The reaction of the solutions was slightly acidic (pH ±5.0). The conditioning of not stored leaves of the Italian arum in gibberellic acid at a concentration of 100 mg/dm3 extended their post-harvest longevity by a week. The storage of conditioned and unconditioned leaves without a loss of ornamental qualities was only possible for a week. Two-week storage of leaves in a cold room was only possible after their previous conditioning in gibberellic acid. The conditioning of leaves in gibberellic acid inhibited chlorophyll degradation; as a result, their greenness index increased.
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Janowska B., 2010. Effect of conditioning on the longevity of leaves of the Italian arum (Arum italicum Mill.) kept at a low temperature. Nauka Przyr. Technol. 4, 1, #12.
Beata Janowska
Katedra Roślin Ozdobnych
Uniwersytet Przyrodniczy w Poznaniu
ul. Dąbrowskiego 159
60-594 Poznań
Poland
e-mail: beataj@up.poznan.pl