Postharvest Life Of Flowers Research Articles

Cytokinins and Gibberellins Stimulate the Flowering and Post-Harvest Longevity of Flowers and Leaves of Calla Lilies (Zantedeschia Spreng.) with Colourful Inflorescence Spathes

Since the 1990s, the world has seen an increased interest in Zantedeschia with colourful inflorescence spathes. In Poland, its cultivation began much later. The reasons for this phenomenon can be traced to the high price of rhizomes reproduced in the United States of America, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Kenya. The area of reproductive plantations is increasing every year, but this does not affect the decrease in the price of rhizomes, which is the main reason that only a few producers are cultivating Zantedeschia cultivars in Poland. Producers offer rhizomes in various sizes, with flowering expected only from the largest ones. However, the yield of cut flowers that can be obtained from them is often not very satisfactory and is not compensated by the price that can be obtained from the sale of the flowers. It is the low yield of cut flowers that is the main problem in the cultivation of Zantedeschia cultivars, hence research conducted worldwide focuses on the use of growth regulators from the group of cytokinins (CKs) and gibberellins (GAs) in the cultivation of Zantedeschia with colourful inflorescence spathes. The post-harvest life of flowers and leaves of cultivated Zantedeschia cultivars is also an important problem. This review presents the results of research conducted over the years to improve the flowering and post-harvest life of the flowers and leaves of Zantedeschia with colourful inflorescence spathes.

<p><strong>Evaluation of sodium nitroprusside (NO donor) as pulsing solution in improving post harvest quality of gladiolus spikes</strong></p>

Gladiolus is an important commercial cut flower of emerging floriculture industry. The prime concern in commercialization is postharvest management of flowers as flowers are biological systems that perish after harvest. Among different chemicals used to improve vase life of gladiolus, nitric oxide has emerged as potent signaling molecule that can delay senescence and improve post harvest life of flowers. Here, we studied the potential of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) as pulsing solution on post harvest quality of gladiolus. Spikes of gladiolus were harvested at tight bud stage and pulsed for 20 h with SNP solutions of different concentrations and various physiological parameters were recorded to evaluate the keeping quality. The pulsing solution of SNP @200 mg L -1 with sucrose and aluminium sulphate significantly improved the vase life whereas pulsing with SNP @400 mg L -1 adversely affected the quality parameters. Spikes pulsed with SNP @200 mg L -1 supplemented with sucrose and aluminium sulphate had higher membrane stability index, relative water content, sugar content, protein content antioxidant enzymatic activity and lower TBARS content as compared to control supporting improved postharvest quality. Thus, sodium nitroprusside @200 mg L -1 with sucrose and aluminium sulphate could be used as pulsing solution to improve the postharvest quality of spike.

6-Benzylamino purine outperforms Kinetin and Thidiazuron in ameliorating flower longevity in Calendula officinalis L. by orchestrating physiological and biochemical responses

Abstract In view of extending the relatively brief postharvest life of flowers by a range of technologies, the present study elucidates the implication of 6-benzylamino purine (BAP), kinetin (KN) and thidiazuron (TDZ) on postharvest performance and flower longevity of isolated flowers of Calendula officinalis. BAP and KN belong to adenine group cytokinins while as TDZ is a diphenyl urea compound having cytokinin like activity. The harvested flowers were supplemented with BAP, KN and TDZ at various concentrations viz., 25, 50, 75 and 100 µM at one day before anthesis (cup shaped) stage. The control was designated by a distinct set of flowers held in distilled water (DW). Our findings revealed substantial enhancement in flower longevity by application of various growth regulators as compared to the control. Vase solutions containing BAP and KN at 50 µM and TDZ at 75 µM (individually) were most effective in improving the longevity of cut Calendula flowers. Improvement in flower longevity was primarily associated with high membrane stability index (MSI), upregulated activities of various antioxidant enzymes viz., catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), besides an attenuated lipoxygenase (LOX) activity in the petals. As compared to control, the treated flowers exhibited higher values of soluble proteins, total phenols and total sugars, besides lower α-amino acid content in the petal tissues. However, BAP outplayed TDZ and KN in improving the flower longevity of Calendula officinalis by maintaining higher physiological and biochemical stability in petals.

A screening test for the determination of cut flower longevity and ethylene sensitivity of carnation

Strategies to prevent postharvest losses include the use of genotypes that have a longer life. The objective of this study was to develop a screening test for the estimation of cut flower postharvest life and the response to exogenous ethylene of different carnation cultivars at an early stage of plant growth. Ethylene sensitivity and production in different cut flower cultivars was evaluated, and a similar response in the vegetative stage was studied. Also, the possible relationship between the morphological parameters of cuttings and flower postharvest life was studied. Ethylene production of cuttings may be a useful tool for estimating ethylene production of cut flowers. There is a strong relationship between cut flower vase life and the root length of cuttings, as well as cut flower ethylene sensitivity and the number of internodes the cuttings have. Applications of exogenous ethylene to cutting cultivars have an effect on the growth parameters of the cuttings, but the response to ethylene in cut flowers does not behave in the same way in the vegetative stage.

Botryis-induced Postharvest Losses of Cut Roses May be Reduced by Electron-bean Irradiation

Irradiated cut Rosa × hybrida `Royalty' flowers were used to determine the efficacy of electron-beam irradiation for extending flower postharvest life by reducing native and inoculated populations of Botrytis cinerea. In preliminary experiments, roses received irradiation dosages of 0.00, 0.50,1.00, 2.00, and 4.00 kilogray (kGy), along with an untreated control, to establish killing dosages. Irradiation dosages of 1.00 kGy or greater irreversibly damaged rose petal tissue. In subsequent experiments, roses irradiated at dosages of 0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.00 kGy, and an untreated control, were used for evaluating postharvest events. We have found that irradiation dosages of 0.25 and 0.50 kGy slowed the rate of flower bud opening slightly and did not decrease postharvest quality or longevity. Inoculated and uninoculated roses irradiated at 0.00, 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75 kGy were used to determine if electron-beam irradiation could reduce Botrytis infection and proliferation during postharvest storage, and these results also will be presented.

Season and fertilization affect the post-harvest flower life of anthurium

Cut anthurium ( Anthurium andraeanum Andre, cultivar ‘Ozaki’) flower post-harvest vase life as affected by seasonal and factorial combinations of N, P and K was tested. Vase life varied from 8 to 69 days. Mean maximum temperature during the two months before harvest and during post-harvest life were positively related and explained ∼53% of the variation. At the investigated fertilizer rates, high N reduced flower post-harvest life at 22°C which was alleviated by K, whereas P did not influence cut flower post-harvest life. Nitrogen- and K-fertilization explained ∼13% and ∼17%, respectively of the variation. The type of fertilizer affected the reason for the end of the flower post-harvest life. Spadix necrosis and spathe condition was important at low N- and P- and high K-fertilizer rates. Loss of spathe gloss was important at high N- and low K-fertilization levels. Pre-harvest factors explained 63–71% of the variance of post-harvest life. Optimum fertilizer rate for maximum post-harvest life was 0 kg ha −1 year −1 N; 224 and 448 kg ha −1 year −1 K were equally effective.

Regulation of postharvest flower senescence in Zinnia elegans Jacq.

Postharvest decorative life of Zinnia elegans flowers was prolonged by holding-solutions containing 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate (8-HQC) and sucrose. Flowers lasted longest in a solution of 200 mg l −1 8-HQC and 1% sucrose. Flowers held in 2 or 3% sucrose and 200 mg l −1 8-HQC developed necrotic lesions on ray florets and foliage. The decorative life of flowers held in 0.25 or 0.5% sucrose and 200 mg l −1 8-HQC was extended beyond those in de-ionized water, but this extension was less than, or equal to, the postharvest life of those in 1% sucrose and 8-HQC (200 mg l −1), depending on the cultivar. Postharvest life of flowers produced in May — June under natural photoperiod was significantly longer than that of flowers produced during February to April under a 14-h day provided by incandescent light.