Summary of Preharvest calcium application boosts the biostimulatory effect of protein hydrolysate by improving the postharvest life of gerbera cut flower
Calcium Enhances Biostimulant Effect on Gerbera Growth and Vase Life
Calcium enhances biostimulant effect of protein hydrolysates in gerbera, significantly improving both plant growth and the postharvest lifespan of cut flowers. Protein hydrolysates (PH), rich in peptides and amino acids, are gaining attention as effective biostimulants. However, their influence on flower longevity, especially when combined with calcium, requires deeper understanding. This study evaluated the impact of PH alone and PH combined with calcium (PH+Ca) on two gerbera cultivars, Brunello (red) and Tommy (yellow), revealing important benefits of calcium addition.
How Calcium Enhances Biostimulant Effect During Vase Life
Foliar application of PH improved growth parameters such as nutrient absorption, photosynthesis, and flower production across both cultivars. Yet, the addition of calcium to PH significantly boosted vase life performance. Flowers treated with PH+Ca exhibited longer durability, showing an average 19% reduction in weight loss by day 10 compared to untreated controls. This confirms that calcium enhances biostimulant effect specifically in prolonging the postharvest life of gerbera flowers.
Additional Benefits of Calcium and Biostimulant Application
Beyond vase life, the combined treatment also helped maintain petal pigmentation, especially notable in the Tommy cultivar where color intensity remained stable during postharvest, unlike untreated flowers. This highlights the role of calcium in preserving not only physical quality but also aesthetic value through its synergistic effect with protein hydrolysates. These findings suggest that integrating calcium with biostimulants can be a valuable strategy to improve sustainability and quality in floriculture.
In conclusion, this research provides clear evidence that calcium plays a critical role in enhancing the biostimulant effect of protein hydrolysates on gerbera. Such advances could help growers achieve better flower longevity and quality while supporting more sustainable production practices.
Publication: Scientia Horticulturae
