Abstract
The current study assesses the efficacy of thidiazuron and cytokinins (6- benzylamino purine and kinetin) in modulating flower senescence in excised spikes of Consolida ajacis. The spikes harvested at commercial maturity were transported to laboratory and arranged into multiple sets. Each set of spikes was subjected to different treatments of thidiazuron (TDZ), benzylamino purine (BAP) and kinetin (KIN) viz., 25 µM, 50 µM, 75 µM and 100 µM. One set of spikes designated as control was kept in distilled water. Inclusion of these growth regulators significantly improved the postharvest longevity of C. ajacis cut spikes. The enhancement in display life was proportionate with upsurge in the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT). Flowers held in different test solutions of BAP, KIN and TDZ, exhibited higher values of sugars, phenols and proteins. Furthermore, these growth regulators minimized membrane leakiness by reducing lipoxygenase activity (LOX) and improved membrane stability. Among the various growth regulators tested, 50 µM TDZ was found to be highly efficacious in mitigating flower senescence in C. ajacis cut spikes as compared to KIN and BAP.