Silver Nanoparticle and Cold Storage Improves Postharvest Quality of Cut Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii L.)

Gerbera is one of the world's five most important cut flower crops. The most important factor in the cut flower industry is vase life, which significantly affects both producer and consumer preference. In this study, the effects of different concentrations of silver nanoparticles (0 (control), 10 ppm, 20 ppm, 30 ppm, and 40 ppm) on post-harvest quality criteria and vase life of gerbera plants were investigated. In addition, this study was carried out in 3 different environments (room conditions, room conditions after 48 hours in 2 °C cold storage and 2 °C cold storage until vase life expires). As a result of the study, the 3^rd environment gave the best results in all parameters compared to the other two environments. In particular, it was determined that the applications made in cold storage had 40 days more vase life than the other environments. In the 3^rd environment, the application with the highest vase life was determined in 20 ppm AgNPs application (54.17 days), and it was observed that these environments provided an 18.61% increase in vase life compared to the control (45.67 days). The best results in relative fresh weight, daily vase solution uptake, and total vase solution uptake were determined in 40 ppm AgNPs treatment.  Bacterial densities between media and treatments were close to each other. This study showed that the products can be preserved in cold storage and then released to the market, and 20 ppm AgNPs application can play a protective role, especially in extending the vase life.