Low oxygen affects the quality of Asiatic hybrid lily bulbs during simulated dry-sale storage and subsequent forcing

Abstract

Abstract Asiatic hybrid lily bulbs cultivars ‘Marseille’, ‘Vermeer’, and ‘Vivaldi’ were held in 0–8% O2 or air at 22–24 °C under fluorescent lighting to evaluate the potential use of modified atmospheres to extend shelf life. Following approximately 30 days of storage, bulbs were forced in the greenhouse. Storage in 1% O2 was the most effective treatment. Shoot elongation and flower bud development was greatly inhibited at 1% O2 in all cultivars, while concentrations at or below 0.5% were destructive to shoot tissues. Air-stored bulbs produced stunted plants and a high incidence of flower bud abortion. One percent O2 delayed anthesis and decreased the number of flower buds compared with air in all cultivars, but flowers developed normally, and plants were taller compared with air-stored bulbs. The quality of ‘Marseille’ plants grown from bulbs held in 1% O2 was high. The quality of ‘Vermeer’ was acceptable, but a small percentage of plants grown from bulbs held in 1% O2 did not emerge. ‘Vivaldi’ performed poorly due to a high percentage of blind and non-emerging plants. Results demonstrate that low O2 storage may extend the dry-sale shelf life of certain Asiatic hybrid lily cultivars by inhibiting shoot elongation and flower bud development while producing a flowering plant that is acceptable to the consumer.