LONGEVITY OF EPIDENDRUM IBAGUENSE FLOWERS AFFECTED BY AN ETHYLENE ABSORBER

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the ethylene absorber potassium permanganate (KMnO4) on the postharvest longevity of Epidendrum ibaguense Kunth flowers. KMnO4 in the form of sachets containing vermiculite were fixed 1.5-L sealed glass bell jars. The flowers were placed in vases with distilled water (250 ml) within the sealed glass bell jars and containing 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.0 g KMnO4 per sachet. Flower stems maintained within or out of the glass bell jars in the absence of KMnO4 were used as controls. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design, where the plots consisted of different amounts of KMnO4 and subplots were storage period (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 days) with three replicates of four stems/treatment. The storage of the flower was conducted at 25 degrees C and relative humidity 50-70% under white light intensity of 7-10 mu mol/m(2)/s. The rate of abscission and wilting of the flowers was expressed in percentage (%) and floral longevity characterized by the number of days from harvest until the inflorescence had >= 50% of flower abscission or wilting evaluated daily. The longevity of floral stems was estimated in four days for the controls. The treatment with 0.25 g KMnO4 extended the longevity of flowers to five days, while flowers treated with 0.50, 0.75 and 1.0 g KMnO4 extended then by up to seven days. The reduction of ethylene levels in the modified atmosphere within glass bell jars extended the longevity and reduced the abscission of the flowers.