Abstract
Alstroemeria flowers have shown great importance in the world trade of cut flowers due mainly to its beauty and wide variety of colors. However, the durability of its inflorescences is usually hampered by the rapid yellowing of the leaves, which impairs their decorative quality. Cut flowers require the use of technologies to improve postharvest quality and floral longevity. This research aimed to study the postharvest conservation of inflorescences of Alstroemeria cv. Ajax at different storage temperatures. Floral stems were placed in containers with distilled water and stored at four temperatures (4, 8, 12, and 22ºC) for 12 days. The following analyses were performed: fresh mass variation, respiratory activity, relative water content, soluble and reducing carbohydrate contents, polyphenol-oxidase and peroxidase enzymes, pigments (anthocyanin and carotenoids), and longevity. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, the results were submitted to analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the effect of treatments submitted to F-test. Significant differences were compared using the least significant difference (LSD) at 95% confidence interval (p ≤ 0. 05). The temperatures of 8 and 12ºC were effective in maintaining the postharvest quality of inflorescences during storage period, as they remained turgid due to transpiration reduction caused by low temperatures, and longevity reaching 46 and 22 days, respectively.
Highlights
IntroductionSeveral methods have been employed to increase the durability of cut flowers, low-temperature storage is still the most widely used because it enables maintenance of flower quality (Chitarra & Chitarra, 2005)
The temperatures of 8 and 12oC were effective in maintaining the postharvest quality of inflorescences during storage period, as they remained turgid due to transpiration reduction caused by low temperatures, and longevity reaching 46 and 22 days, respectively
Several methods have been employed to increase the durability of cut flowers, low-temperature storage is still the most widely used because it enables maintenance of flower quality (Chitarra & Chitarra, 2005)
Summary
Several methods have been employed to increase the durability of cut flowers, low-temperature storage is still the most widely used because it enables maintenance of flower quality (Chitarra & Chitarra, 2005). This technique reduces plant metabolism, directly reducing transpiration, respiratory rate, and ethylene production by slowing degradation of sugar reserves, extending the durability of flower stems (Nowak, Goszcznska, & Rudnicki, 1991). Many studies have shown that low temperatures are effective in maintaining the postharvest quality of cut flowers, with significant results in extending the useful life thereof. Suzanne stored at 2, 4, and 6oC showed longer useful life than those stored at 20oC (Durigan & Mattiuz, 2009)
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