https://doi.org/10.37229/fsa.fjh.2024.03.21

Flowers are an integral part of our life due to their diversity in form, color and fragrance. Tuberose is a marketable ornamental species and considers as one of the most important ornamental flowers grown mainly due the long flowering period, which is an important aspect whether grown as cut flowers or landscaping. The aim of the experiment was to study the effect of using microwaves, UV rays and gamma rays on the growth and flower quality of tuberose plant. Data revealed that irradiation of Tuberose bulbs with microwaves for 10 and 20 seconds significantly improved the growth and flower quality parameters while the time from planting to harvest increased compared to the control. For UV-C rays, 1 and 2 hours exposure increased Tuberose growth and flower quality with superiority of 2 hour exposure except for the time from planting to harvest where 1 hour was superior to 2 hour exposure as the time from planting to harvest was similar to the control. Gamma irradiation of bulbs enhanced growth and flower quality parameters with preference of dose of 5 Gy, however, the time from planting to harvest increased with all doses compared to the control. In conclusion, irradiation of Tuberose bulbs with microwave for 20 seconds, UV-C for 2 hours and gamma rays at dose of 5 Gy could be effective treatments for improved production of Tuberose with enhanced growth and flower quality. The most important indicators, which reflect the economic efficiency of transactions of microwaves, UV rays and gamma rays to tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) plants, are average productivity, total return, the net return, benefit-cost ratio, cost of florets, and cost of corms, profitability, and return on the invested pound of feddan.