Response of cut carnation (Dianthus caryophllus L.cv. Tempo) to essential oils and antimicrobial compounds

Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L. cv. Tempo) cut flower is sensitiveto ethylene and bacterial infection on stem end. Bacterial contaminationproducestoxic compoundsand these compounds stimulate the ethylene productionthat ultimately shortens vase life. Cut flowers were kept in vases containing Artemisia oil and Anethum oil (both at 4, 8 and 12%), 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate (200, 400 and 600 mg l-1) and aluminum sulfate (100, 200 and 300 mg l-1). Results showed that the 100 mg l-1 aluminum sulfate, 200 mg l-1 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate, 12 % Artemisia and Anethum essential oils induced the maximum vase life (17.9, 16.7, 16.1 and 15.1 days, respectively) of cut flowers.Vase life of control cut flowers was 13 days. Mentioned above treatments stimulate the minimum ethylene production and stem end bacterial colonies and maximum water uptake