Combined preharvest and postharvest treatments affect rapid leaf wilting in Bouvardia cut flowers

Abstract

Bouvardia is an ornamental shrub, commercially cultivated as flowering stem. Occasionally, negative water balance, which leads to rapid leaf wilting, ends vase life immediately. This work studies the effect of preharvest and postharvest conditions on vase life, water uptake and transpiration. Stems grown at moderate RH show a significantly longer vase life, lower water uptake and transpiration rate compared to those grown at high RH. Postharvest treatments overcoming air emboli and wound response had a positive effect on vase life. One of the treatments to overcome air emboli, surfactant treatment, increased water uptake and transpiration rate compared to control. Higher water deficit was measured in stems that had reduced vase life. Stomata malfunction (not closing in response to closing stimuli) resulting from high air humidity during growth conditions is likely one cause for the negative water balance. A combination of high transpiration rate (due to high RH) and hindering of vase water uptake (due to air emboli and/or stem-wounding responses) is likely the main reason for early wilting of Bouvardia leaves and short vase life.