Nano-chitosan as an antimicrobial agent in preservative solutions for cut flowers

BACKGROUND: Cut flowers require proper postharvest stem hydration to prolong vase life. Nano-sized chitosan is an effective antimicrobial agent that has several potential agricultural applications. In this study, we compared the efficacies of solutions containing chitosan nanoparticles, regular chitosan particles, citric acid, and distilled and tap water controls in treating cut gerbera inflorescences during postharvest storage. Relative water uptake (RWU), transpiration rate (TR), water balance (WB), ligule color, solution pH, stem bending, stem-end blockage, and counts of bacteria, mold and yeast were investigated. RESULTS: The solution containing chitosan nanoparticles prevented stem bending, enabled higher RWU (41.8 g kg−1 day−1), established a suitable WB, and controlled microbial growth more efficiently than the other solutions. The chitosan nanoparticle solution strongly inhibited molds and yeasts. CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrated that nano-chitosan is a promising postharvest preservative for cut gerbera inflorescences. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).