MODIFIED ATMOSPHERE PACKAGING (MAP) FOR PRESERVING GERBERA, LILIUM AND ROSA CUT FLOWERS

Abstract

Cut flowers often have a short vase life. Over a few days after harvest, petal decolouration, tissue browning, loss of flower parts and total senescence usually occurs. These events will significantly compromise their commercial value. A modified atmosphere packaging system is proposed to increase flower vase life. Some preliminary tests on different cultivars of Gerbera, Lilium and Rosa were carried out to individualize the best gas mixture to introduce in the package. Three different mixtures were compared: air (78%N2/21%02/0.03%C02) and two without oxygen (100%N 2 and 90%N 2 /10%CO 2 ), plus a non-packaged control. Packages were preserved at 4±1°C and flowers subsequently analyzed after 3, 6, 9 and 12 days of storage. Gerbera 'Dino' and 'Igloo' cut stems had a longer vase life when packaged in air compared to the non-packaged control. Lilium cut stems packaged for three days in a modified atmosphere had a similar vase life to that of the control. In our experiments, cut roses were more perishable than Gerbera and Lilium cut stems. This was possibly associated with the high greenhouse temperatures that rose flowers experienced during the summer harvest. Although we established that modified atmospheres may significantly extend cut flower vase life, it still remains to verify the species- and cultivar-specific effects of packaging on flower vase life.