Abstract
Cut curcuma stem has a reported vase life of 7 to 21 days and this difference in vase life is probably due to a combination of different factors such as growing conditions and postharvest treatments. However, the cut flower industry needs key postharvest information for new species and cultivars to be able to effectively market the flowers. The objectives of this study was to evaluate the effect of commercial hydrator and holding solutions, commercial growth regulator formulation, floral foam, ethylene and silver thiosulfate (STS) on the postharvest handling of C. alismatifolia cultivars. Control treatment (deionized water) had better vase life than the combinations of the commercial hydrator for 4h and commercial holding solution for 44h. Floral foam reduced vase life to 17 days from 23 days for the control treatment. The growth regulators gibberellin plus benzyladenine (GA4+7 + BA) had a positive effect on the fresh weight keeping parameter, but further studies are necessary. STS did not improve vase life, nor did ethylene at 1 µL L-1 reduce it. The curcuma cultivars tested were not positively affected by vase solution composition and had an average vase life in deionized water of 21 days.
Highlights
The Curcuma genus is well known due to the culinary use of C. longa, whose rhizomes are dried and powdered to produce a condiment called turmeric, a base of curry spice
The growth regulator gibberellic acid (GA) had a great impact on maintaining fresh weight when applied after harvest, but studies differed on its effect on vase life, either positive (KJONBOON and KANLAYANARAT, 2005) or neutral (BUNYA-ATICHART et al, 2004)
The postharvest treatments were based on the logistic steps after harvest, starting with treatments that would be administered to the flowers at the production or wholesaler facilities
Summary
The Curcuma genus is well known due to the culinary use of C. longa, whose rhizomes are dried and powdered to produce a condiment called turmeric, a base of curry spice. C. alismatifolia, called Siam tulip, has potential to be used as a bedded plant, potted or cut flower. It has an attractive inflorescence with a cone-like appearance where the distal bracts are green and apical bracts are pink, purple or white, spirally arranged and closely overlapped, giving a tulip-like appearance (Figure 1) (BUNYA-ATICHART et al, 2004; NAIR, 2013). Studies have shown C. alismatifolia ‘Chiang Mai Pink’ stems are ethylene sensitive and did not respond well to 8-HQS + sucrose, DICA + sucrose and sucrose alone in the vase solution (BUNYA-ATICHART et al, 2004). The growth regulator gibberellic acid (GA) had a great impact on maintaining fresh weight when applied after harvest, but studies differed on its effect on vase life, either positive (KJONBOON and KANLAYANARAT, 2005) or neutral (BUNYA-ATICHART et al, 2004)
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