Estimation of metabolic activity of cut flowers during a study to enhance vase life of Cymbidium hybrid cut-flowers

In this study, the metabolic activity (MA) of orchid cut flowers was estimated by the modified alkali trap method for the first time, when an approach was made to increase the vase life of Cymbidium miniature hybrid and Cymbidium hybrid ‘H. C. Aurora’ cut flowers. Metabolic inhibitors like-systemic fungicides (Carbendazim and Metalaxyl) and darkness were used to increase the vase life of the cut flowers. Cut flowers kept with metabolic inhibitors had significantly higher relative fresh weight (RFW), rate of vase solution uptake (RVSU) and significantly lower MA compared to control, which consequently increased the vase life of the cut flowers. The vase life was maximum under Carbendazim + darkness treatment (C200 + D), followed by Carbendazim (C200)> Metalaxyl +Darkness (M200 + D)> Metalaxyl (M200)> Distilled water + Darkness (D)> Control, whereas the MA was maximum under the Control treatment, followed by D > M200 > M200 + D > C200 > C200 + D treatments for both the cut flowers. The C200 + D treatment increased the vase life by ∼31 and 27% for Cymbidium miniature hybrid and Cymbidium hybrid ‘H. C. Aurora’, respectively, compared to the control treatment. It can be inferred that Carbendazim+ darkness treatment can increase the vase life of orchid cut flowers and the modified alkali trap method would be effective for estimation of MA of the cut flowers.