Pretreatment liquid for promoting flower forcing quality of cut flowers of low-openness babysbreath as well as preparation method and application of pretreatment liquid

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of cut flower postharvest treatment, and discloses a pre-treatment solution for promoting flower forcing quality of low-openness babysbreath cut flowers and a preparation method and application thereof. The pre-treatment liquid is prepared from the following components in percentage by weight / volume: 20 to 60 g / L of cane sugar, 100 to 250 mg / L of 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate, 50 to 200 mg / L of citric acid, 0.5 to 1.5 g / L of calcium nitrate, 0.3 to 0.8 g / L of aluminum sulfate and 50 to 100 [mu] mol / L of sodium nitroprusside; and 0.3 to 1.0 mL / L of tween-20 by volume percent. The method further comprises the following components in percentage by weight / volume: 10-30 mg / L of gibberellin and 50-100 mg / L of salicylic acid, particularly for the post-harvest flower pretreatment stage of the babysbreath cut flowers with low openness, a whole-course shape protection scheme from harvesting to flower forcing is provided for the cut flowers through triple synergy of energy supply, antibiosis and anticorrosion and physiological regulation, and the flower forcing flowering rate and the ornamental quality are remarkably improved. The invention further provides an efficient and stable preparation process of the pretreatment liquid, the stability and permeability of the components are ensured, and the pretreatment liquid is suitable for cut flower production, logistics and retail end pretreatment links and has remarkable economic benefits.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of post-harvest treatment technology for cut flowers, specifically a pretreatment solution for promoting the flowering quality of baby's breath cut flowers with low opening degree. It is particularly suitable for post-harvest flower treatment of baby's breath cut flowers with an opening degree of 3-35%. Through the triple synergistic effect of energy supply, antibacterial and antiseptic properties, and physiological regulation, it provides a complete protection solution for baby's breath cut flowers from harvest to flowering, significantly improving the flowering rate and ornamental quality. It is applicable to the post-harvest circulation of cut flowers. Background Technology

[0002] Baby's breath (Gypsophila apaniculata L.), originally named Conical Stone Flower, also known as Conical Silky Carnation, Conical Silky Carnation, Silky Carnation, June Snow, and Baby's Breath, is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the genus Gypsophila in the Caryophyllaceae family. It is also the only species in the genus used as a cut flower. Baby's breath is characterized by its small, sparse leaves, numerous slender flower stalks, abundant and fluffy flowers, small, pure white blossoms, and excellent clustered inflorescences that resemble twinkling stars, creating a three-dimensional effect and adding a touch of ethereal beauty to bouquets. It has become one of the most widely used filler flowers in the world and is among the top ten best-selling cut flowers globally, widely used in various bouquets and floral arrangements. However, the inflorescence of baby's breath is a multi-branched, conical cyme with numerous small flowers. The florets within each inflorescence open first at the top and then gradually descend. The market often demands pure white baby's breath flowers that are about 80% open. Harvesting in the field requires waiting for the lower flowers to open, but it takes more than a month for baby's breath to go from 3% to 80% open. In addition, the earliest open flowers on the top layer will wither, turn brown, and become dried flowers, ultimately affecting the overall quality of the cut flowers.

[0003] Currently, CN119949225A discloses a method for post-harvest induction of flowering in cut baby's breath flowers, which includes the following steps: 1) preliminary preparation; 2) flower harvesting; 3) preparation of induction solution; 4) flower treatment; 5) induction treatment; 6) induction maintenance; 7) post-induction treatment. This method can increase the opening rate of cut baby's breath flowers with an opening degree of 3-35% to 80% within a very short time (e.g., 7-15 days), while also significantly improving the quality and yield of cut baby's breath flowers. However, cut baby's breath flowers with an opening degree of 3-35% (low opening degree) exhibit active physiological metabolic changes, manifested in: 1) low opening degree flowers require continuous water support for bud development, but the dense branching (diameter <0.5mm) results in a large transpiration surface area, leading to a higher water loss rate compared to branches with an opening degree of over 75% (high opening degree). Simultaneously, the cut surface secretes pectin, tannins, and other substances, which, combined with bacterial growth (optimal pH 6.5–7.2), cause complex vascular blockage, leading to a decrease in water absorption. If the preservative solution is not inserted within 30 minutes after harvesting, the water deficit will trigger the ethylene peak 48 hours earlier, resulting in bud abortion. 2) Buds with low openness are in the developmental stage and require a large amount of sucrose to synthesize proteins and maintain cell turgor pressure. However, leaves compete with buds for sucrose, resulting in low-openness buds absorbing less than 50% of the sugar as high-openness buds. At the same time, the respiration rate increases with the degree of openness (climacteric characteristic), with sugar consumption increasing by 30% in 24 hours at room temperature. 3) Low-openness flower branches have high cytokinin (CTK) activity, but the CTK supply to the roots is interrupted after detachment, increasing ethylene sensitivity. If ethylene synthase (ACS) is not inhibited, the bud opening synchronization is poor, with delayed opening and premature decay coexisting. 4) The nutrient solution at the cut surface accumulates sugars, accelerates bacterial reproduction, blocks vascular bundles, and decomposes preservative components. Low-openness treatment has a longer cycle (4-6 hours) and a 3 times higher infection probability than high-openness. Therefore, low-openness baby's breath cut flowers are typical developing fresh plants, and their preservation lies in balancing the contradiction between "promoting development" and "resisting decay". Therefore, improper handling of low-openness baby's breath cut flowers in the post-harvest to pre-flowering stage will significantly weaken the effect of the flower-inducing solution and even lead to flower-inducing failure.

[0004] Pretreatment Solution: Also known as Pulsing Solution, it is one of the preservatives for cut flowers. It is a chemical agent that regulates the physiological and biochemical metabolism of cut flowers, inhibits microbial growth, delays the ethylene effect, and improves water balance. These mechanisms aim to artificially regulate the aging process of cut flowers, reduce distribution losses, and improve distribution or ornamental quality. The first treatment of cut flowers is generally carried out within 24 hours of harvesting. This is done by growers between harvesting and selling, or by collectors after collecting flowers from growers and before transportation. It involves a short treatment combined with rehydration, and its effects can last until the consumer places the cut flowers in water. The main purpose is to reduce losses during storage and transportation, improve distribution quality, and extend vase life. Traditional pretreatment solutions (such as sucrose + 8-hydroxyquinoline) focus on sterilization rather than flower induction, and are insufficient in promoting the opening of low-opening flower branches (opening rate <75%). There are numerous reports in China regarding the preservation of cut baby's breath flowers. CN1602689A discloses a pretreatment solution for cut baby's breath flowers, with core components consisting of 8-hydroxyquinoline (0.4%–1.2%), citric acid (0.6%–1.8%), 6-benzylpurine (0.08%–0.24%), vitamin E (0.4%–1.2%), cis-propenyl phosphate (ethylene inhibitor), and polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (surfactant). This patent primarily uses 8-hydroxyquinoline and citric acid for antibacterial activity and 6-BA for growth regulation, but it does not differentiate between different levels of flower opening and applies a uniform treatment. It is specifically optimized for the high transpiration rate and developmental energy requirements of low-opening flower branches. For example, excessively high concentrations of 8-hydroxyquinoline in the formula damage the stem bark tissue, exacerbating water imbalance and causing severe damage to low-opening baby's breath. 6-benzylpurine is expensive, and vitamin E is poorly soluble in water, limiting its industrial application. Calcium ion deficiency leads to insufficient petal strength, making the flowers susceptible to mechanical damage during processing and transportation. Traditional pretreatment solutions have limited effect on preserving the quality of low-opening baby's breath flowers, and there is an urgent need for a special pretreatment solution that can activate the opening of low-opening baby's breath cut flower buds and maintain the fullness of the petals. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a pretreatment solution for promoting the forcing quality of low-opening baby's breath cut flowers. This pretreatment solution for baby's breath cut flowers works through energy supply (low sugar), antibacterial and preservative effects (salicylic acid-aluminum salt), and physiological regulation (GA3-Ca). 2+ This invention addresses the core post-harvest issues of low-opening baby's breath cut flowers through a triple synergistic approach, significantly improving the flowering rate and ornamental quality. It also provides a highly efficient and stable pretreatment solution preparation process, ensuring component stability and permeability.

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] This invention provides a pretreatment solution for promoting the forcing quality of low-opening baby's breath cut flowers. The pretreatment solution is characterized by being prepared by dissolving sucrose, 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate (8-HQC), citric acid, calcium nitrate, aluminum sulfate, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), and Tween-20 in water in a specific ratio.

[0008] The amounts of each component in the pretreatment solution are as follows: by weight / volume percentage, the concentrations of the following components are: sucrose 20-60 g / L, 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate 100-250 mg / L, citric acid 50-200 mg / L, calcium nitrate 0.5-1.5 g / L, aluminum sulfate 0.3-0.8 g / L, sodium nitroprusside (SNP) 50-100 μmol / L; and by volume percentage, Tween-20 0.3-1.0 mL / L.

[0009] The pretreatment solution for cut flowers of *Gypsophila paniculata* also includes 10–30 mg / L of gibberellin and 50–100 mg / L of salicylic acid by weight / volume percentage.

[0010] Specifically, the amounts of each component in the pretreatment solution are as follows: sucrose 20 g / L, 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate 200 mg / L, citric acid 150 mg / L, calcium nitrate 1.0 g / L, aluminum sulfate 0.5 g / L, sodium nitroprusside (SNP) 50 μmol / L, gibberellin 20 mg / L, and salicylic acid 80 mg / L; and Tween-20 0.3 mL / L by volume percentage.

[0011] This invention also provides a method for preparing the above-mentioned pretreatment solution for cut flowers of baby's breath, characterized by the following steps (under light-protected conditions, see the step-by-step preparation process flow). Figure 1 ):

[0012] Preparation of S1 base solution:

[0013] Add sucrose and Tween-20 to 600 mL of deionized water at 60±2℃ and stir magnetically until completely dissolved (300 rpm, 10 min). After cooling to 30℃, add calcium nitrate and aluminum sulfate, homogenize using a vortex mixer (2000 rpm) for 5 min, and stir until completely dissolved.

[0014] S2 functional additive dissolution:

[0015] Gibberellin and salicylic acid were added to 10 mL of 75% ethanol and magnetically stirred at a constant temperature (50°C, 200 rpm) until completely dissolved; 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate was dissolved in 20 mL of 10% ethanol solution (volume ratio) and sonicated (40 kHz, 10 min) to form a homogeneous suspension; sodium nitroprusside was dissolved in 50 mL of deionized water at 4°C under light-protected conditions and stored in a brown glass bottle to prevent photodegradation.

[0016] S3 Mixing and pH Adjustment:

[0017] The gibberellin and salicylic acid mixed ethanol solution, 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate ethanol suspension and sodium nitroprusside solution obtained in step S2 were added to the mixed base solution in sequence. The mixture was homogenized in a vortex mixer (2000 rpm) for 15 min under light-protected conditions and stirred thoroughly until homogeneous. Citric acid solution (50% w / v) was added dropwise to adjust the pH to 3.8 ± 0.1.

[0018] S4 Volume Adjustment and Sterilization:

[0019] Bring the volume to 1L, filter through a 0.45μm nylon membrane to remove impurities and undissolved particles; dispense into brown, light-proof glass bottles, seal with nitrogen, and store for 30 days (at 4°C).

[0020] In another aspect, this invention also provides a complete process for applying the above-mentioned pretreatment solution for cut flowers, including the following:

[0021] Phase 1: Harvesting and Initial Processing

[0022] ① Select flower branches with visible outer florets but unopened central buds (3-35% openness) and harvest them in the early morning when the temperature is low;

[0023] ②. Cut the stem base horizontally in water, keeping the cut fresh, and remove the lower 1 / 3 of the leaves;

[0024] ③. Transfer to the pre-cooling workshop within 30 minutes to avoid moisture loss due to evaporation.

[0025] Phase Two: Pretreatment Fluid Pulse Processing

[0026] ①. Insert the flower branch vertically into the pretreatment solution, ensuring a depth of ≥15cm to guarantee full contact;

[0027] ②. Processing temperature: 10±2℃ in a dark environment (low temperature environment inhibits respiration consumption);

[0028] ③. Processing time: 4 to 6 hours (until the flower branches gain 10 to 15% weight).

[0029] Phase Three: Flower-Forcing and Maintenance Treatment

[0030] ①. After removing from the water, do not rinse; directly transfer the water into the flower-inducing solution to a depth of 10-15 cm.

[0031] ②. Processing environment: Temperature 20±2℃, light intensity 2000 lux (12h / 12h light-dark cycle), relative humidity 70%;

[0032] ③. Processing time: 6 to 10 days (until the opening rate reaches 80% or more).

[0033] Preferably, in the entire process of applying the pretreatment solution for cut flowers of baby's breath, the determination of the degree of flower opening of 3% to 35% is based on the proportion of fully open flowers to the total number of flowers on a single stem. Generally, it is the state of small flowers just beginning to open. Flowers that are not yet fully open and only show white seeds cannot be considered as open flowers.

[0034] Preferably, in the entire process of applying the pretreatment solution for cut baby's breath flowers, the pretreatment temperature is maintained at 10±2℃ throughout. Temperatures above 12℃ accelerate metabolism, while temperatures below 8℃ cause chilling injury. The initial temperature of the pre-cooling tank is set at 5℃, and the temperature rises to 10℃ and remains stable within 30 minutes after the flower stems are inserted.

[0035] Preferably, the entire process of applying the pretreatment solution for cut baby's breath flowers involves establishing a real-time monitoring model for the weight gain rate of the flower stems, automatically ending the treatment when the weight gain reaches 12%. This avoids insufficient water absorption due to a short treatment time (<4 hours) or sugar damage due to a long treatment time (>6 hours).

[0036] Preferably, the pretreatment solution for cut baby's breath flowers, its preparation method, and its application require the use of deionized water, distilled water, purified water, or RO membrane filtered water with a conductivity ≤50μS / cm. Tap water containing bleach is prohibited to prevent chloride ions from causing browning of the petals.

[0037] In the above formula, sucrose provides the energy source for bud expansion in cut flowers, promoting petal elongation and osmotic potential balance. Appropriate osmotic pressure helps maintain the water balance of cut flowers, preventing wilting due to excessive water loss and keeping the flowers in good condition. Additionally, the low concentration of sucrose provides energy to maintain basal metabolism without promoting microbial growth. 8-Hydroxyquinoline citrate is the most commonly used broad-spectrum bactericide in preservatives, exerting its bactericidal effect by removing copper and iron ions from bacteria. The use of 8-hydroxyquinoline in preservatives inactivates tannins produced at the cut base of the flower stem, thereby inhibiting microbial proliferation and preventing blockage of the flower stem's vascular bundles. 8-Hydroxyquinoline is usually used in conjunction with citric acid in preservatives. Citric acid is one of the most widely used organic acids in preservatives, capable of lowering the pH value of the preservative, reducing bacterial motility, acidifying and inhibiting bacterial flora, and dissolving the polysaccharide mucus in the stem. Calcium nitrate replaces calcium chloride, avoiding chloride ion toxicity while enhancing the cross-linking stability of petal cell walls, improving the mechanical strength of flower branches, and reducing damage during transportation. Aluminum sulfate maintains cell membrane stability, reduces water loss, chelates polyphenol oxidase, and maintains the white color of flowers in white varieties; it also enhances stem rigidity, prevents bending, lowers pH, and inhibits bacteria. Sodium nitroprusside inhibits the activity of ACC synthase and ACC oxidase, blocks ethylene signal transduction, reduces petal drop, and also scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS), reduces malondialdehyde (MDA) content, maintains cell membrane integrity, and enhances the inhibitory effect on stem vascular clogging bacteria when used in combination with 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-HQ). Gibberellin is a plant growth regulator that breaks dormancy, accelerates calyx unfolding, and activates calyx cell expansion at low cost (GA3 promotes branching, as confirmed by the Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences). Salicylic acid is also a plant growth regulator that inhibits the activity of the key enzyme in ethylene synthesis, ACS (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase), blocks senescence signal transduction, and scavenge reactive oxygen species. Tween-20 is a surfactant that reduces surface tension, promotes solution absorption, and enhances the penetration of active ingredients. In addition, when combined with citric acid, it removes mucus from the stem, thus improving water absorption efficiency.

[0038] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0039] (1) Based on the changes in the postharvest physiological characteristics of baby's breath cut flowers and the innovation of green materials, this invention provides a comprehensive protection solution for baby's breath cut flowers from harvest to flowering through a triple synergy of energy supply, antibacterial and antiseptic properties, and physiological regulation. For example, gibberellin GA3 activates the expansion of flower bud cells and sucrose-calcium ions enhance the turgor pressure of petals, solving the problem of "stiff buds" in low-opening flower branches; salicylic acid inhibits ethylene synthesis and aluminum sulfate chelates polyphenol oxidase, delaying the browning rate of petals and significantly improving the commercial rate of high-end cut flowers. It is applicable to the pre-treatment stages of cut flower production, logistics, and retail, and has significant economic benefits.

[0040] (2) This invention is the first to target the water loss characteristics of thin-walled cells of Gypsophila paniculata by using a low-sugar + dual hormone (SA + GA3) synergistic scheme, which significantly improves the water absorption rate of cut flowers of Gypsophila paniculata with low opening degree.

[0041] (3) The short-time processing (4 hours) of this invention is superior to the traditional 12-hour pre-cooling, conforms to the standardized process of commercial pre-cooling (from the time of harvest to the completion of pre-processing), and improves the efficiency of the supply chain.

[0042] (4) This invention ensures the stability and permeability of the components by using precise component ratios and optimized preparation processes, and by employing stepwise dissolution and filtration techniques. Attached Figure Description

[0043] Figure 1 Flowchart of pretreatment solution preparation process;

[0044] Figure 2 Flowchart of pretreatment solution;

[0045] Figure 3 Comparison of fully opened flowers in the treatment group, blank group, and control group;

[0046] Figure 4 Comparison of vase life between the treatment group, blank group, and control group;

[0047] Figure 5 Phenotypic diagram of the experimental cut flowers of this invention in vase arrangement. Detailed Implementation

[0048] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention.

[0049] Example 1

[0050] The formula and dosage of a 1L pretreatment solution are as follows: 20g sucrose, 200mg 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate, 100mg citric acid, 1.0g calcium nitrate, 0.5g aluminum sulfate, 50μmol sodium nitroprusside (SNP), 20mg gibberellin, 80mg salicylic acid, and 0.3mL Tween-20.

[0051] Prepare it according to the following steps:

[0052] Preparation of S1 base solution:

[0053] Add sucrose and Tween-20 to 600 mL of deionized water at 60±2℃ and stir magnetically until completely dissolved (300 rpm, 10 min). After cooling to 30℃, add calcium nitrate and aluminum sulfate, homogenize using a vortex mixer (2000 rpm) for 5 min, and stir until completely dissolved.

[0054] S2 functional additive dissolution:

[0055] Gibberellin and salicylic acid were added to 10 mL of 75% ethanol and magnetically stirred at a constant temperature (50°C, 200 rpm) until completely dissolved; 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate was dissolved in 20 mL of 10% ethanol solution (volume ratio) and sonicated (40 kHz, 10 min) to form a homogeneous suspension; sodium nitroprusside was dissolved in 50 mL of deionized water at 4°C under light-protected conditions and stored in a brown glass bottle to prevent photodegradation.

[0056] S3 Mixing and pH Adjustment:

[0057] The gibberellin and salicylic acid mixed ethanol solution, 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate ethanol suspension and sodium nitroprusside solution obtained in step S2 were added to the mixed base solution in sequence. The mixture was homogenized in a vortex mixer (2000 rpm) for 15 min under light-protected conditions and stirred thoroughly until homogeneous. Citric acid solution (50% w / v) was added dropwise to adjust the pH to 3.8 ± 0.1.

[0058] S4 Volume Adjustment and Sterilization:

[0059] Bring the volume to 1L, filter through a 0.45μm nylon membrane to remove impurities and undissolved particles; dispense into brown, light-proof glass bottles, seal with nitrogen, and store for 30 days (at 4°C).

[0060] Select baby's breath 'Iros' with stems approximately 80 cm long and flowers that are about 20% open. Make a clean, flat cut at the base of the stem with sharp scissors. Immediately after cutting, place the flower stems in a container of clean water. Within 30 minutes, transfer them to a pre-cooling room. Remove the bottom third of the leaves, side branches, and damaged flowers, retaining only the most intact and well-developed flowers and a suitable amount of leaves at the top. Trim the stems neatly according to their length and thickness, ensuring the inflorescences face upwards and are arranged uniformly. Then, simply tie the base of the baby's breath stems and trim them evenly. After making a slanted cut in the water, divide the flowers into 3 groups with 3 replicates: one group with clean water as a control and one control group. CN1602689A discloses a pretreatment solution for cut baby's breath flowers, consisting of 0.8% 8-hydroxyquinoline, 1.2% citric acid, 0.16% 6-benzylpurine, and vitamin E. A control group was prepared using 0.8% cis-propenyl phosphate and 0.1% polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (0.3% by volume). Another group was treated with this pretreatment solution. The stems were immediately placed in each test group at a depth of 5–20 cm, ensuring the lower ends of all stems were submerged. The plants were treated in a dark environment at 10±2℃ for approximately 4 hours. Then, the cut baby's breath flowers were transferred to a specific forcing solution and placed in a forcing room. The ambient temperature was maintained at 15–30℃, relative humidity at 60%–85%, and light intensity at 1000–3000 lux. Direct sunlight and poor ventilation were avoided. The forcing time was 5–12 days. Approximately 3L of treatment solution was maintained in the forcing container to ensure continuous dehydration throughout the forcing process.

[0061] Application effect:

[0062]

[0063]

[0064] Note: The test variety was 'Ilos', harvested at 20% openness, with 3 groups of 3 replicates and 20 branches per replicate.

[0065] After treatment with the pretreatment solution of this invention (control group), all indicators of the "Ilos" variety of baby's breath cut flowers were higher than those of the control group (CN1602689A) and the blank group (water). Compared with the control group, the weight gain rate of the pretreated flower branches, the flowering synchronization rate (5 days), the full opening rate, and the maximum flower diameter increased by 61.8%, 15.4%, 18.8%, and 13.3%, respectively. It achieved a synchronous opening rate of ≥85%+ and a flower diameter of 11.9±0.2mm in about 7 days (compared to only 10.2±0.1mm in the water control). It also shortened the forcing time of baby's breath cut flowers by 18.2% (1.6 days shorter than the CN1602689A patent). The pretreatment solution of this invention also improved the product qualification rate (reaching 92%) and vase life (extending it by about 3 days compared to the CN1602689A patent).

[0066] Example 2

[0067] The formula and dosage of a 1L pretreatment solution are as follows: 40g sucrose, 100mg 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate, 50mg citric acid, 1.5g calcium nitrate, 0.3g aluminum sulfate, 100μmol sodium nitroprusside (SNP), 30mg gibberellin, 50mg salicylic acid, and 0.5mL Tween-20.

[0068] The preparation steps and processing methods are the same as in Example 1.

[0069] Application effect:

[0070] index Processing group (this invention) Blank group (clear water) Control group (CN1602689A) Improvement rate Pre-treatment of flower branches weight gain rate 15.1±0.6％ 5.5±0.8％ 10.5±0.3％ +43.8％ Flowering synchronization rate (5 days) 70％ 55％ 60％ +16.7％ Full open rate ≥95％ 80～85％ 80～85％ +18.8％ Maximum flower diameter (mm) 10.2±0.1 9.0±0.3 9.5±0.2 +8.4％ Flowering time reaches 85% 7.8 days 10.1 days 9.5 days －17.9％ Product qualification rate 95％ 74％ 80％ +18.8％ Vase life (days) 16～18 9～11 14～16 +13.3％

[0071] Note: The test variety was Bristol Fairy, harvested at 10% openness, with 3 groups of 3 replicates and 20 branches per replicate.

[0072] After treatment with the pretreatment solution of this invention (control group), all indicators of the "Bristol Fairy" variety of baby's breath cut flowers were higher than those of the control group (CN1602689A) and the blank group (water). Compared with the control group, the weight gain rate of the pretreated flower branches, the flowering synchronization rate (5 days), the full opening rate, and the maximum flower diameter increased by 43.8%, 16.7%, 18.8%, and 8.4%, respectively. It achieved a synchronous opening rate of ≥85%+ and a flower diameter of 10.2±0.1mm in about 7 days (compared to only 9.0±0.3mm in the water control). It also shortened the forcing time of baby's breath cut flowers by 17.9% (1.7 days shorter than the CN1602689A patent). The pretreatment solution of this invention also improved the product qualification rate (up to 95%) and vase life (extending it by about 2 days compared to the CN1602689A patent).

[0073] Example 3

[0074] The formula and dosage of a 1L pretreatment solution are as follows: 60g sucrose, 150mg 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate, 150mg citric acid, 0.5g calcium nitrate, 0.8g aluminum sulfate, 80μmol sodium nitroprusside (SNP), 20mg gibberellin, 100mg salicylic acid and 1.0mL Tween-20.

[0075] The preparation steps and processing methods are the same as in Example 1.

[0076] Application effect:

[0077] index Processing group (this invention) Blank group (clear water) Control group (CN1602689A) Improvement rate Pre-treatment of flower branches weight gain rate 16.4±1.3％ 5.1±1.7％ 11.1±1.5％ +47.7％ Flowering synchronization rate (5 days) 80％ 65％ 70％ +14.3％ Full open rate ≥95％ 80～85％ 80～85％ +18.8％ Maximum flower diameter (mm) 10.9±0.2 9.2±0.1 9.5±0.2 +14.7％ Flowering time reaches 85% 7.1 days 9.2 days 8.3 days －14.5％ Product qualification rate 97％ 78％ 83％ +12.9％ Vase life (days) 16～18 9～11 14～16 +13.3％

[0078] Note: The test variety was 'Yunxing 03', with a harvest opening degree of 30%, 3 groups of 3 replicates, and 20 branches / replica.

[0079] After treatment with the pretreatment solution of this invention (control group), all indicators of the "Yunxing 03" variety of baby's breath cut flowers were higher than those of the control group (CN1602689A) and the blank group (water). Compared with the control group, the weight gain rate of the pretreated flower branches, the flowering synchronization rate (5 days), the full opening rate, and the maximum flower diameter increased by 47.7%, 14.3%, 18.8%, and 14.7%, respectively. It achieved a synchronous opening rate of ≥85%+ and a flower diameter of 10.9±0.2mm in about 7 days (compared to only 9.2±0.1mm in the water control). It also shortened the forcing time of baby's breath cut flowers by 14.5% (1.2 days shorter than the CN1602689A patent). The pretreatment solution of this invention also improved the product qualification rate (reaching 97%) and vase life (extending it by about 2 days compared to the CN1602689A patent).

[0080] Example 4

[0081] The formula and dosage of a 1L pretreatment solution are as follows: 40g sucrose, 250mg 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate, 200mg citric acid, 1.5g calcium nitrate, 0.6g aluminum sulfate, 50μmol sodium nitroprusside (SNP), 30mg gibberellin, 80mg salicylic acid, and 0.3mL Tween-20.

[0082] The preparation steps and processing methods are the same as in Example 1.

[0083] Application effect:

[0084]

[0085]

[0086] Note: The test variety was 'Yunxing 23', with a harvest opening degree of 25%, 3 groups of 3 replicates, and 20 branches / replica.

[0087] After treatment with the pretreatment solution of this invention (control group), all indicators of the "Yunxing 23" variety of baby's breath cut flowers were higher than those of the control group (CN1602689A) and the blank group (water). Compared with the control group, the weight gain rate of the pretreated flower branches, the flowering synchronization rate (5 days), the full opening rate, and the maximum flower diameter increased by 51.3%, 14.3%, 18.8%, and 6.3%, respectively. It achieved a synchronous opening rate of ≥85%+ and a flower diameter of 10.1±0.2mm in about 7 days (compared to only 8.9±0.2mm in the water control). It also shortened the forcing time of baby's breath cut flowers by 13.6% (1.2 days shorter than the CN1602689A patent). The pretreatment solution of this invention also improved the product qualification rate (reaching 93%) and vase life (extending it by about 2 days compared to the CN1602689A patent).

[0088] Example 5

[0089] The formula and dosage of a 1L pretreatment solution are as follows: 35g sucrose, 200mg 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate, 200mg citric acid, 1.5g calcium nitrate, 0.6g aluminum sulfate, 50μmol sodium nitroprusside (SNP), 30mg gibberellin, 100mg salicylic acid, and 0.8mL Tween-20.

[0090] The preparation steps and processing methods are the same as in Example 1.

[0091] Application effect:

[0092] index Processing group (this invention) Blank group (clear water) Control group (CN1602689A) Improvement rate Pre-treatment of flower branches weight gain rate 16.8±2.4％ 6.8±1.7％ 12.1±1.3％ +38.8％ Flowering synchronization rate (5 days) 85％ 75％ 75％ +13.3％ Full open rate ≥95％ 80～85％ 80～85％ +18.8％ Maximum flower diameter (mm) 18.3±0.3 16.7±0.2 17.1±0.2 +7.0％ Flowering time reaches 85% 6.8 days 8.8 days 8.3 days －18.1％ Product qualification rate 95％ 80％ 85％ +11.8％ Vase life (days) 17～19 10～12 14～16 +20.0％

[0093] Note: The test variety was "Perfacta", with a harvest opening degree of 30%, 3 groups with 3 replicates, and 20 branches per replicate.

[0094] After treatment with the pretreatment solution of this invention (control group), all indicators of the "Perfacta" variety of baby's breath cut flowers were higher than those of the control group (CN1602689A) and the blank group (water). Compared with the control group, the weight gain rate of the pretreated flower branches, the flowering synchronization rate (5 days), the full opening rate, and the maximum flower diameter increased by 38.8%, 13.3%, 18.8%, and 7.0%, respectively. It achieved a synchronous opening rate of ≥85%+ and a flower diameter of 18.3±0.3mm in about 6 days (compared to only 16.7±0.2mm in the water control). It also shortened the forcing time of baby's breath cut flowers by 18.1% (1.5 days shorter than the CN1602689A patent). The pretreatment solution of this invention also improved the product qualification rate (up to 95%) and vase life (extending it by about 3 days compared to the CN1602689A patent).

[0095] Example 6

[0096] The formula and dosage of a 1L pretreatment solution are as follows: 40g sucrose, 1500mg 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate, 100mg citric acid, 1.0g calcium nitrate, 0.3g aluminum sulfate, 100μmol sodium nitroprusside (SNP), 30mg gibberellin, 50mg salicylic acid and 0.8mL Tween-20.

[0097] The preparation steps and processing methods are the same as in Example 1.

[0098] Application effect:

[0099] index Processing group (this invention) Blank group (clear water) Control group (CN1602689A) Improvement rate Pre-treatment of flower branches weight gain rate 18.1±0.8％ 6.1±2.1％ 12.8±2.7％ +41.4％ Flowering synchronization rate (5 days) 70％ 55％ 60％ +16.7％ Full open rate ≥95％ 80～85％ 80～85％ +18.8％ Maximum flower diameter (mm) 15.3±0.3 13.7±0.2 14.4±0.3 +6.3％ Flowering time reaches 85% 8.6 days 10.7 days 9.8 days －12.2％ Product qualification rate 96％ 82％ 85％ +12.9％ Vase life (days) 17～19 9～11 14～16 +13.3％

[0100] Note: The test variety was 'Early-maturing Large-flowered' Gypsophila, with a harvest opening degree of 5%, 3 groups with 3 replicates, and 20 branches per replicate.

[0101] After treatment with the pretreatment solution of this invention (control group), all indicators of the "early-maturing large-flowered" Gypsophila cut flowers were higher than those of the control group (CN1602689A) and the blank group (water). Compared with the control group, the pretreated flower branch weight gain rate, flowering synchronization rate (5 days), full opening rate, and maximum flower diameter increased by 41.4%, 16.7%, 18.8%, and 6.3%, respectively. It achieved a synchronous opening rate of ≥85%+ and a flower diameter of 15.3±0.3mm in about 8 days (compared to only 13.7±0.2mm in the water control). It also shortened the forcing time of Gypsophila cut flowers by 12.2% (1.2 days shorter than the CN1602689A patent). The pretreatment solution of this invention also improved the product qualification rate (reaching 96%) and vase life (extending by about 3 days compared to the CN1602689A patent).

[0102] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Although the present invention has been disclosed above with preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make some modifications or alterations to the above-disclosed technical content to create equivalent embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent changes, and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention shall still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A pretreatment solution for promoting the forcing quality of low-opening baby's breath cut flowers, its preparation method and application, characterized in that, The pretreatment solution was prepared by dissolving sucrose, 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate (8-HQC), citric acid, calcium nitrate, aluminum sulfate, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), and Tween-20 in water in a specific ratio.

2. The pretreatment solution for promoting the forcing quality of low-opening baby's breath cut flowers according to claim 1, characterized in that: The amounts of each component in the pretreatment solution are as follows: by weight / volume percentage, the concentrations of the following components are: sucrose 20-60 g / L, 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate 100-250 mg / L, citric acid 50-200 mg / L, calcium nitrate 0.5-1.5 g / L, aluminum sulfate 0.3-0.8 g / L, sodium nitroprusside (SNP) 50-100 μmol / L; and by volume percentage, Tween-20 0.3-1.0 mL / L.

3. The pretreatment solution for promoting the forcing quality of low-opening baby's breath cut flowers according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pretreatment solution for cut flowers of *Gypsophila paniculata* also includes 10–30 mg / L of gibberellin and 50–100 mg / L of salicylic acid by weight / volume percentage.

4. The pretreatment solution for promoting the forcing quality of low-opening baby's breath cut flowers according to claims 1-3, characterized in that: The amounts of each component in the pretreatment solution are as follows: sucrose 20 g / L, 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate 200 mg / L, citric acid 100 mg / L, calcium nitrate 1.0 g / L, aluminum sulfate 0.5 g / L, sodium nitroprusside (SNP) 50 μmol / L, gibberellin 20 mg / L, and salicylic acid 80 mg / L; and Tween-20 0.3 mL / L by volume percentage.

5. The method for preparing a pretreatment solution to promote the forcing quality of low-opening baby's breath cut flowers according to claim 1, characterized in that, Prepare according to the following steps (under light-protected conditions): Preparation of S1 base solution: Add sucrose and Tween-20 to 600 mL of deionized water at 60±2℃ and stir magnetically until completely dissolved (300 rpm, 10 min). After cooling to 30℃, add calcium nitrate and aluminum sulfate, homogenize using a vortex mixer (2000 rpm) for 5 min, and stir until completely dissolved. S2 functional additive dissolution: Gibberellin and salicylic acid were added to 10 mL of 75% ethanol and magnetically stirred at a constant temperature (50°C, 200 rpm) until completely dissolved; 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate was dissolved in 20 mL of 10% ethanol solution (volume ratio) and sonicated (40 kHz, 10 min) to form a homogeneous suspension; sodium nitroprusside was dissolved in 50 mL of deionized water at 4°C under light-protected conditions and stored in a brown glass bottle to prevent photodegradation. S3 Mixing and pH Adjustment: The gibberellin and salicylic acid mixed ethanol solution, 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate ethanol suspension and sodium nitroprusside solution obtained in step S2 were added to the mixed base solution in sequence. The mixture was homogenized in a vortex mixer (2000 rpm) for 15 min under light-protected conditions and stirred thoroughly until homogeneous. Citric acid solution (50% w / v) was added dropwise to adjust the pH to 3.8 ± 0.

1. S4 Volume Adjustment and Sterilization: Bring the volume to 1L, filter through a 0.45μm nylon membrane to remove impurities and undissolved particles; dispense into brown, light-proof glass bottles, seal with nitrogen, and store for 30 days (at 4°C).

6. The entire process of applying the pretreatment solution to promote the forcing quality of low-opening baby's breath cut flowers according to claim 1, characterized in that, Including the following: Phase 1: Harvesting and Initial Processing ① Select flower branches with visible outer florets but unopened central buds (3-35% openness) and harvest them in the early morning when the temperature is low; ②. Cut the stem base horizontally in water, keeping the cut fresh, and remove the lower 1 / 3 of the leaves; ③. Transfer to the pre-cooling workshop within 30 minutes to avoid moisture loss due to evaporation; Phase Two: Pretreatment Fluid Pulse Processing ①. Insert the flower branch vertically into the pretreatment solution, ensuring a depth of ≥15cm to guarantee full contact; ②. Processing temperature: 10±2℃ (low temperature environment inhibits respiration consumption); ③. Processing time: 4-6 hours (until the flower branches gain 10-15% weight); Phase Three: Flower-Forcing and Maintenance Treatment ①. After removal, do not rinse; directly transfer into the catalytic solution to a depth of 10–15 cm. ②. Processing environment: Temperature 20±2℃, light intensity 2000 lux (12h / 12h light-dark cycle), relative humidity 70%; ③. Processing time: 6 to 10 days (until the opening rate reaches 80% or more).

7. The entire process of applying a pretreatment solution to promote the forcing quality of low-opening baby's breath cut flowers according to claim 1 / 6, characterized in that: The entire process of applying the pretreatment solution for cut flowers of baby's breath, and the judgment of the degree of flower opening of 3% to 35%, are based on the proportion of fully open flowers to the total number of flowers on a single stem. Generally, it is the state of small flowers just beginning to open. Flowers that are not yet fully open and only show white seeds cannot be considered as open flowers.

8. The entire process of applying a pretreatment solution to promote the forcing quality of low-opening baby's breath cut flowers according to claim 1 / 6, characterized in that: The entire process of applying the pretreatment solution for cut flowers of baby's breath involves maintaining a temperature of 10±2℃ throughout the pretreatment process. Temperatures above 12℃ accelerate metabolism, while temperatures below 8℃ cause chilling injury. The initial temperature of the precooling tank is set at 5℃, and the temperature rises to 10℃ within 30 minutes after the flower branches are inserted and remains stable.

9. The complete process of applying a pretreatment solution to promote the forcing quality of low-opening baby's breath cut flowers according to claim 1 / 6, characterized in that: The entire process of applying the pretreatment solution for cut flowers of baby's breath involves increasing the weight of the flower stems and establishing a real-time monitoring model for the weight gain rate. When the weight gain of the flower stems reaches 12%, the treatment will automatically end to avoid insufficient water absorption due to a short treatment time (<4 hours) or sugar damage due to a long treatment time (>6 hours).

10. A pretreatment solution for promoting the forcing quality of low-opening baby's breath cut flowers according to claims 1 / 5 / 6, its preparation method and application, characterized in that: The water quality requirements are as follows: use deionized water, distilled water, purified water, or RO membrane filtered water with a conductivity ≤50μS / cm; tap water containing bleach is prohibited to prevent chloride ions from causing browning of the petals.

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