Effects of Light Intensity and Air Temperature in Simulated Postproduction Environment on Petunia hybrida Vilm.1,2

Abstract

Abstract Plants of Petunia hybrida ‘Coral Sea’ were placed in postproduction conditions of low (300 µE m−2s−1), medium (600 µE m−2s−1) or high (900 µE m−2s−1) quantum flux density (QFD) at temperatures of 10, 20, or 30°C after first flower opening. Change in dry weight and number of senesced flowers were determined, and visual quality ratings were given. Plants kept at 20° and 30° had greatest dry weight accumulation and flower number but poorest visual rating at 10 days when kept under high QFD, compared with those kept under medium or low QFD. When plants were kept at 10°, QFD was of little importance to postproduction quality. All plants delined in visual quality by 15 days when kept at 20 or 30° but remained satisfactory when kept at 10°. Plants should be held at either medium or low QFD when placed at 20° or 30° postproduction temperature.