Abstract：The effects of vase treatments with nisin, a novel natural antimicrobial agent, in combination with sucrose, on ornamental quality, vase life and some water relation indexes of cut carnation (Dianthus carbophyllus L.) ‘Tundra’ flowers were investigated. In addition, the inhibition of nisin on the growth of bacteria isolated from the cut carnation stem-ends was detected by the bacterial co-culture method. Compared with the control (deionized water), 30.0 g/L sucrose solely and 1.0 g/L citric acid (as cosolvent) + 30.0 g/L sucrose, treatments contained 0.8 ~ 1.2 g/L Nisin could significantly improve the ornamental quality and prolong the vase life of cut carnation flowers. Among them, the preservation effects of 0.8 g/L Nisin + 1.0 g/L citric acid + 30.0 g/L sucrose were the best, and its vase life (20.6 d) was the longer by 54.9% than that of the control (13.3 d). Further studies showed that the combination treatment could significantly increase water uptake, and maintain high fresh mass and water balance value of cut carnation flowers. Moreover, after incubation at 37℃ for 11.5 h, it was observed that the colony growth of bacteria isolated from the stem-ends of cut carnations flowers was obviously inhibited in the medium containing 0.4 g/L and 0.8 g/L Nisin.
2023, Vol. 36 
