Abstract
Codiaeum variegatum is easily grown under hot and humid field conditions and has a high export potential. However, wilting and senescence during post-harvest operations often reduces its vase-life. To improve this drawback, an investigation was conducted to preserve the export quality of C. variegatum vars. Mariana, Batik and Aucubeafolia. Eight separate experiments were conducted to maintain high quality standards during storage life of three varieties of C. variegatum. Cold treatment with or without hot water dip, leaf morphology, leaf maturity with cutting type, pre-harvest hormonal regulation, de-topping, post-harvest hormonal regulation, commodity treatments and combined treatments of the above were the test criteria. The vase-life of three Codiaeum varieties were significantly different from each other. Similarly their response to individual treatments was also variable. Some of these individual treatments such as hormonal regulation were not compatible to be used as a combined treatment. Selection of mature or partially mature stem cuttings having a full length of purple and elongated leaves, de-topping 1-2 weeks before harvesting, spraying of 0.1 mM of Kinetine 4 days before harvesting, application of 100 ppm of Gibberellic acid (GA 3 ) after harvesting, pre-cooling at 17°C and 79% humidity for one day (after harvesting) and application of commodity treatment of 2mg/L of KMn0 4 with 2.5% of sugar and citric acid were the ideal individual treatments for extending the vase-life of Codiaeum varieties. Except post-harvest hormonal regulation, all the other plant selection criteria and post-harvest treatments that are mentioned above could be practiced in combination to increase the vaselife of all three varieties of Codiaeum without loosing the export standards significantly. The increased vase-life under combined treatment wasl8 days for var. Mariana, 20 days for var. Batick and 24 days for var. Aucubaefolia which was a 36.2% increase. Keywords: Cold treatment, commodity treatments, de-topping, hormonal regulation, shoot morphology. Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 J. Natn.Sci.Foundation Sri Lanka 2007 35(3): 153-159 doi: 10.4038/jnsfsr.v35i3.2013 Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /
Highlights
Floriculture has become a profitable sub-sector of agribusiness throughout the world in recent years
Instant hot water dip followed by room temperature storage (T2 and T4) or cold storage ( T 6 and T 8 ) for 1-2 days were not significantly effective on quality and vase-life of crotons (Figure 1)
Reduction of the rate of respiration[18] and moisture loss[19] under low temperature and high humidity would have extended the vase-life of Codiaeum under cold treatment for 1 day
Summary
Floriculture has become a profitable sub-sector of agribusiness throughout the world in recent years. The climatic variation coupled with a diverse terrain enables Sri Lanka to develop a wide range of floriculture flora[1]. The export trade in floriculture began in early 1980s, it has grown substantially to become one of Sri Lanka's major foreign exchange generating ventures[2]. Export earnings from floriculture have increased from Rs. 191.1 Mn in 1990 to Rs. 624.7 Mn in 2000. Sri Lanka was the world's 3 2 n d largest exporter of live plants with 0.1% share of the market[3]. Foliage ornamentals have a 90% share of the ornamental exports which is 5.2% of the annual agricultural export earnings of Sri Lanka[4]. Foliage ornamentals are grown in 472 ha which is 94% of the total land area under floriculture (500 ha)[5]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
