Postharvest Effects of Dark Storage and Light Source on Keeping Quality of Ficus benjamina L.1

Abstract

Abstract Ficus benjamina was maintained 10 weeks in a simulated interior environment (SIE) with a controlled temperature of 21°C ± 1° under either 15 µEm-2sec-1 photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) from Cool White fluorescent (CWF) lamps or 15 µEm-2sec-1 (PAR) from incandescent (INC) lamps after receiving no light for various time periods (0, 4, 8 and 12 days). Plants held under CWF had a decrease in chlorophyll content and increase in leaf drop with increased days in dark. Quality as determined by leaf retention and plant grade indicated that those plants receiving 8 and 12 days dark storage and held under CWF lamps lost more leaves and were not salable after 10 weeks in SIE. Most plants held under INC lamps had no decrease in chlorophyll content, retained more leaves, and maintained good plant grade regardless of days in dark storage.