Abstract: 7 kinds of color protected solut ion for red petals of cut rose ‘Samantha’were made up based on internal and external factors which influence changes of the petal color during pressing and drying of the petals. The
treatments of the solution were performed with painting of different concentration and with soaking of different time. The results of color protection that very closed to the fresh petals (K₄₀M₁₀₀Y₅₅) were obtained in 9 treatments from 80 treatment combinations, which are A1 0. 5 h soaking, A1-2 painting with 1/ 2 diluted solution, A1-2 painting with 1/ 4 diluted solut ion, A2-6 36 h soaking, A2-6 6 h soaking, A2-6 12 h soaking, A2-9 32 h soaking, A2-9 48 h soaking, and A2-9 56 h soaking. The best result of the color protection was gained in the treatment of A2-9 48 h soaking among the 9 treatments above after 6 months of natural sunshine. The results of pigment analysis showed that there are mainly cyanidin ( 3, 5, 7-trihydro-diphenylpyrane) and 8􀀁hydrolycopene in the petals. The possible mechanism of protect ing permanently the red color after drying of the rose petals is suggested that cyanidin might react with magnesium salt of the color protection solution, producing stable substances such as cyanin and its aglycon.

Key words: Rose, Dry pressed flowers, Color protection solut ion, Pigment analysis