Effects of nanofiber membrane applications on vase life of cut rose (Rosa hybrida L.) flowers

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of nanofibre membranes containing methyl jasmonate (MeJA), lavender oil (LO) and silver nanoparticles (AgNP) on post-harvest quality and vase life of cut rose (Rosa hybrida 'Rhodos'). The study was conducted in three stages; nanofiber production and characterization, preliminary experiment and main experiment. The nanofiber membranes were applied as vase solution. The characterization analyses revealed that LO, MeJA and AgNP were successfully bounded to the nanofiber membranes, released in a controlled manner, and provided antibacterial properties to the nanofibers overall. In the preliminary experiment, it was shown that the most effective treatmensts for vase life were nanofiber containing MeJA and MeJA+AgNP. In the main experiment, nanofiber membranes (MeJA and MeJA+AgNP) were applied at different concentrations (100, 500 and 1000 mg L-1). During the main experiment, parameters such as vase life, weighted scoring analysis, water uptake, relative fresh weight change, bacterial growth at the base of flower stem, superoxide dismutase enzyme activity (SOD), peroxidase enzyme activity (POD) and total monomeric anthocyanin content were evaluated. As a result of the findings, it was determined that nanofiber treatments delayed the quality loss and increased the vase life of cut roses depending on the contained substance and their concentration. The longest vase life was obtained from 500 mg L-1 NF+MeJA+AgNP (15.5 days) and 100 mg L-1 NF+MeJA (15.0 days) treatments. In contrast, the shortest vase life was observed in control and 25 μL L-¹ MeJA treated cut roses (12.5 and 12.8 days). According to the results of the weighted scoring, 500 mg NF+MeJA+AgNP was the only treatment that was in the 'Very good' group with the highest score (632.0). In addition, 100 mg L-1 NF+MeJA, 100 mg L-1 NF+MeJA+AgNP and Chrysal (commercial control) treatments scored 539.3 (Good), 566.0 (Good) and 504.7 (Good), respectively. These treatments generally increased water uptake and delayed fresh weight loss. However, toxicity symptoms were observed in roses treated with high doses of nanofibers (1000 mg L-1 NF+MeJA, 1000 mg L-1 NF+MeJA+AgNP). Flowers treated with applications enhancing enzyme activities (SOD and POD) better maintained their vase life quality. Nanofiber treatments containing MeJA and MeJA+AgNP were effective in preventing the spread of Botrytis cinerea infection depending on the application dose. Although nanofiber containing silver nanoparticles and Chrysal treatments showed significant antibacterial activity, treatments containing only MeJA did not exhibit antibacterial properties. As a result, these findings suggest that nanofiber technology offers an innovative solution that can be used among the preservation methods of cut flowers. 500 mg NF+MeJA+AgNP and 100 mg NF+MeJA treatments were found to be the most effective treatments in protecting the post-harvest quality and extending the vase life of cut roses. Furthermore, it is recommended that nanofiber technology be developed using various polymers and active substances and its applicability to different types of cut flowers be investigated.