Abstract:
Two Experiments were conducted to study the effect of light, pH and sucrose onanthocyanin content in cut rose var. Dalas. In the first experiment, the effect of blue light, redlight, 12 hours of illumination and period of darkness on the change of anthocyanin andflavonoid contents in rose petals were determined. The results showed that roses kept inblue light, red light, 12 hours of illumination and a period of darkness increased in theconcentration of anthocyanin after one day storage. Afterwards, the concentration ofanthocyanin remained constant. Although roses kept in 12 hours of illumination had thehighest the anthocyanin concentration after 5 days storage but the roses color remainedconstant. The highest contents of reducing sugar was found in rose kept in 12 hours ofillumination and red light, blue light and a period of darkness respectively. In addition,roses kept in 12 hours of illumination could increase protein contents and respiration ratewere increased after 3 days storage. The weight loss was increased in roses kept in 12hours of illumination, red light, blue light and a period of darkness respectively. In thesecond experiment, the interaction of pH 4, 5 and 7 with added sucrose 0, 10 and 15% w/v invase solution were determined. The results showed that pH and sucrose had slightly effects onanthocyanin and flavonoid contents but showed non significant. However these parameterscaused a change in petals color. The roses stored in a solution of 15% sucrose at pH 5 had theleast change in petals color while petals altered rapidly in roses stored in a solution of 15%sucrose at pH 4. The content of reducing sugar, respiration rate and ethylene production wereincreased when sucrose concentrations were increased. Ethylene production raised to amaximum after one day storage in the roses stored in solution with sucrose and thensubsequently declined. In contrast, respiration rate did not change until 3 days storage. Inaddition, The weight loss was decreased in roses stored in a solution with sucrose 15%,sucrose 10% and sucrose 0% respectively.