CARBOHYDRATE METABOLISM IN DENDROBIUM FLOWERS AFTER HARVEST

Abstract

Inflorescences of Dendrobium 'Pompadour', 'Misteen', 'Sakura', 'Caesar' and 'Intuwong' with removal of 0, 50 and 100% open florets were held in distilled water at 25°C for 15 days. The results showed inflorescences without removal of open florets had less dropping of flower buds and more opening of flower buds than those with removal of 50 and 100% open florets. Inflorescences of Dendrobium 'Pompadour' with removal of 0, 50 and 100% open flowers had the most dropping of the flower buds compared to other cultivars. Dendrobium 'Pompadour' open flowers had more reducing sugars (RS) and total sugars (TS) than flower buds and large flower buds (old buds) had more RS and TS than small flower buds (young buds). However, small flower buds had more non-reducing sugars (NRS) contents than large flower buds. As the holding time advanced, flower buds of inflorescences without removal of open flowers had more NRS, RS and TS than those with removal of all open flowers. Flower buds in inflorescences with removal of 50% open flowers had more NRS, RS and TS than those with removal of all open flowers. On the final day both large and small flower buds had almost the same NRS, RS and TS. Flower buds had more NRS than open flowers right after harvest and during holding time. Data suggested that there was a sugar translocation between open flowers and flower buds of Dendrobium after harvest.