Water relations in cut calla lily flowers maintained under different postharvest solutions

Thais Silva Sales,Michele Valquíria Dos Reis,Guilherme Mariano Manfredini,Ângela Maria Pereira Do Nascimento,Patrícia Duarte De Oliveira Paiva

doi:10.1590/2447-536x.v27i2.2235

Abstract

Abstract The use of chemicals in storage solutions has proved beneficial for the postharvest conservation of cut flowers. However, the effect of these solutions on the water relations of some species is still unknown. Therefore, the objective of the present investigation was to evaluate the water relations in calla lily flowers harvested at different stages and maintained under postharvest solutions with different chemicals. The flower stems were harvested in two stages of spathe opening: the early stage (cartridge) and the 1/3 flower opening stage. The flower stems were dipped in solutions with water (control), 100 mg L-1 sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), 100 mg L-1 aluminum sulfate [Al2(SO4)3], 200 mg L-1 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-HQ) and 10 mg L-1 silver nitrate (AgNO3). Over 9 days, the floral stems were kept in a room at 21 ± 2 °C and 75% ± 5% relative humidity and evaluated for changes in the pH of the solution and the water absorption, transpiration and commercial quality of the cut flowers. The addition of conservation substances to the storage solution induced spathe opening at both harvest stages and promoted water absorption by the stems, thus increasing the efficiency of flower hydration. The water balance maintenance was best for stems stored in water and storage solutions with Al2(SO4)3.

Highlights

Calla lilies are usually harvested when they show extended spathes (Almeida et al, 2009); different harvest stages have been recently accepted for use in decoration
V. 27, No 2, 2021 p. 126-136 is available on the influence of chemicals in the storage solution on the longevity and water relations of early harvested floral stems
Experimental protocol The experiment consisted of 10 treatments resulting from a factorial design with 2 harvest stages and 5 storage solutions: water, 100 mg L-1 sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), 100 mg L-1 aluminum sulfate [Al2(SO4)3], 200 mg L-1 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-HQ), and 10 mg L-1 silver nitrate (AgNO3)

Summary

Introduction

Calla lilies are usually harvested when they show extended spathes (Almeida et al, 2009); different harvest stages have been recently accepted for use in decoration. Harvesting at earlier stages (closed or partial opening) can provide inflorescences with better quality and longevity (Carneiro et al, 2014; Sales et al, 2015; Mattos et al, 2017, Sanches et al, 2017, Sales et al, 2018, Nascimento et al, 2019). 126-136 is available on the influence of chemicals in the storage solution on the longevity and water relations of early harvested floral stems. Water relations are important factors that restrict the vase life of most flowers after harvest (Van Doorn, 2012). Some flower species have a limited vase life due to drought stress since the transpiration rates may be higher than the water absorption (Costa et al, 2015)

Methods

Results

Conclusion