Relationship Between Air Exposure Time and Water Relations of Cut Roses

Abstract

After harvest, Dolcetto cut roses were immediately exposed to air for 0 (E-0), 1 (E-1), 2 (E-2), and 3 h (E-3) and then placed under tap water for recovery. We determined the effect of air exposure time on vase life, water relations, and gene expression of cut flowers. The results revealed that E-0 treatment exhibits a higher postharvest quality of cut flowers than others. E-3 treatment significantly decreased the vase l ife of c ut r oses d ue t o an early f ailure o f water relations, such as larger stomatal size, higher transpiration, shorter time maintaining positive water balance, and the bacterial proliferation. E-0 treatment significantly decreased water stress, maintained leaf chlorophyll fluorescence ratios, and extended the vase life of cut roses. The decrease in water stress of E-0 treated flowers may increase the expression of Rh-PIP2;1 and Rh-TIP in rose petals, resulting in maintained cell turgor and increased flower diameter of cut flowers. These results recommend that a non-exposed harvest can be used for the harvest s tage to improve the postharvest quality of cut flowers. Understanding the relationship between air exposure time and water relations of cut flowers will significantly help in developing distribution systems for assuring cut roses quality.