Effect of pulsing with sucrose and silver thiosulphate complex on keeping quality of cut peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.) cv. Sarah Bernhardt

An experiment was carried out on cut flower Peony cv. “Sarah Bernhardt” to study the effect of pulsing with sucrose and silver thiosulphate on vase life and other parameters. In the trial, sucrose at 3 levels of concentration (0.00, 2.00 and 4.00%) and silverthiosulphate (STS) at 4 levels (0.00, 0.50, 1.00 and 2.00 mm) were tested alone as well as in combination. The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design replicated thrice. The sucrose, 4% and STS 1.0 mm individually recorded higher vase life of 8.93 and 9.36 days respectively. Whereas, their combination (Sucrose 4% × STS 1.0 mm) was significantly superior to the rest of combinations in keeping higher water balance and fresh weight resulting in highest vase life of 10.05 days. This was followed by sucrose 4% × STS 0.50 mm and sucrose 2% × STS 1.0 mm recording 9.57 and 9.18 days of vase life respectively.   Key words: Cut peony, pulsing, vase life, water balance, fresh weight.