Abstract
Tulip (Tulipa gesneriana L.) holds spectacular and colorful bright floral buds that are widely adorned like no other flower,
across the globe. In cut flowers, persistent and prolonged display life is the matter of concern which decides quality index for
florists and consumers. Endophytic bacteria, taken up by the plants when colonized, can act as sink for 1-aminocyclopropane1-carboxylate (ACC), hence delay senescence. These bacteria, when used as suspension solution for cut flowers, increase the
vase life manifolds which signify their application to commercial floriculture. Keeping in view, the exalted status and market
value of cut tulips, an experiment was conducted to study the response of four bacterial strains viz. Burkholderia phytofirmans
(PsJN), Caulobacter sp. (FA-13), Enterobacter sp. (MN-17) and Bacillus sp. (MN-54) along with control treatment (nontreated stems) in concentrated and diluted forms to estimate the postharvest longevity. 15 mL of suspension solution of bacterial
culture was sprayed on each observational unit under controlled conditions in laboratory. In this experiment, (PsJN) in
concentrated form, performed best and resulted in the longest vase life (11.2 d), delayed leaf yellowing (8.8 d), more water
uptake (70.33 mL), less stem elongation (5.14 cm), more days to open flower bud (2.47 d), maximum flower diameter (50.79
mm) and . Whereas (MN-17) in concentrated form performed best in fresh and dry mass ratio and reduced stem bending. In
conclusion, use of plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) is a useful tool in escalating vase life of cut tulips with improved
floral attributes.
