We examined the efficacy of various pretreatment solutions on the postharvest longevity and quality of ‘Hessa’ cut spray roses (Rosa hybrida L.) to develop an inexpensive and innocuous preservative solution for the cut flower industry. Cut flowers were pretreated with 4 preservatives for 10 hours: Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extract (SC) at 300 μL·L-1, hydrosol (H), S. baicalensis Georgi extract 300 μL·L-1 + sucrose 1% (SC + Suc), and H + sucrose 1% (H + Suc). The results showed that pretreatment with all the solutions except H + Suc improved the postharvest longevity and extended the longevity of cut rose flowers. We found that 300 μL·L-1 of SC was the most effective preservative, which significantly prolonged the postharvest longevity in cut flowers from 9.7 days (control) to 14.1 days. The beneficial effects of 300 μL·L-1 SC pretreatment were associated with inhibition of bacterial accumulation at the basal portion of cut stems, enhanced water uptake, improved fresh weight, and a positive water balance. SC also effectively maintained chlorophyll fluorescence ratios in the leaves and reduced water stress in cut roses. The results demonstrate the potential of SC as an alternative preservative in the cut rose flower industry.

This study was conducted to investigate the antibacterial, antioxidant, and in vitro greenhouse gas mitigation activities of fermented Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extract. Seven starter cultures were used, comprising four of lactic acid bacteria and three of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Ten grams of S. baicalensis Georgi powder was diluted in 90 mL autoclaved MRS broth. Each seed culture was inoculated with 3-10% (v/v) S. baicalensis Georgi MRS broth and incubated at 30℃ for 48 h. Among the starter cultures used, only Lactobacillus plantarum EJ43 could withstand the fermentation conditions. This fermentation broth was dried and extracted with ethanol to assess its antibacterial, antioxidant, and in vitro methane mitigation activities. The extract of S. baicalensis Georgi fermented by L. plantarum EJ43 (SBLp) showed higher antibacterial activity (bigger clear zone) compared to the unfermented S. baicalensis Georgi extract (SB0). SBLp also presented 1.2 folds higher antioxidant activity than SB0. During in vitro rumen fermentation, SBLp showed reduction in methane production compared to SB0 or the control. In conclusion, fermentation by L. plantarum EJ43 may enhance antibacterial and antioxidant activities of S. baicalensis Georgi and decrease enteric methane production.