Postharvest characteristics of cut Camellia japonica L. ‘Kumasaka’

Abstract

Open flowers of cut Camellia japonica L. ‘Kumasaka’ placed in deionized water at 20°C and 60% RH wilted after only two days; unopened flower buds lasted longer under these conditions, but failed to open. When open flowers were placed at high humidity, the vase life was four days, and was terminated by petal abscission. Petal wilting resulted from the failure of the cut stem to replace water lost mainly through the flower petals, and was associated with a fall in water potential, reduced fresh weight, and reduced xylem conductivity. Flower abscission was preceded by petal browning and necrosis and these symptoms occurred concomitant with the development of a sharp rise in ethylene production. Treatment of cut flowers with 0.2 mM silver thiosulfate for 24 h prevented flower abscission, but did not delay the occurrence of necrotic brown spots.