Prolonging the Postharvest of Cut Ruscus Branches (Ruscus hypophyllum L.) by Different Holding Solutions.

The current research was conducted at the Floriculture and Vegetable Laboratory, Agriculture College, Mansoura University, Egypt during the two successive seasons of 2021 and 2022 to study the impact of different holding solutions on the vase life characteristics of cut-ruscus branches (Ruscus hypophyllum). These preservative solutions contained 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate (8-HQS at 200 ppm) as a control treatment, Diphenylamine (DPA at 50, 75, and 100 ppm), and two essential oils (thyme and clove at 100 and 200 ppm for both). For a 12-hour photoperiod, all cut branches in the tested preservative solutions were maintained at 25 ± 2 ºC with 60%–70% relative humidity and cool-white, fluorescent lights producing 1000 lux of light. The obtained data indicated that DPA at 50 or 75 ppm had improved most of the postharvest parameters of these cut branches like the vase life, maximum rise in relative fresh weight, total water uptake, and fresh weight. In addition, these superior treatments minimized the water loss, the activity of the enzymes that break down cell walls, and the bacterial counts in the preservative solutions. Also, 8-HQS at 200 ppm (control) enhanced most of the examined postharvest characteristics of cut ruscus branches with insignificant differences between it and DPA treatments.