EXTENDING THE POSTHARVEST LIFE OF WOODY CUT STEMS

The postharvest life under various handling procedures was determined for nine species of woody cut stems: Buddleja davidii Franch. ‘Royal Red’, Buxus sempervirens L., Hydrangea quercifolia W. Bartram, Ilex crenata Thunb., Ilex L. ‘Nellie R. Stevens’, Ligustrum sinense Lour., Myrica cerifera (L.) Small, Pyracantha coccinea M. Roem., and Viburnum tinus L. ‘Spring Bouquet’. 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and 50°C distilled (DI) water produced the longest vase life for Buddleja, 6.6 and 6.4 d, respectively, compared to the control of 5.6 d.
The 10% sucrose pulse and 1-MCP produced the longest vase life for Viburnum of 15.0 and 13.5 d, respectively, compared to the control of 10.0 d, while vase life of stems placed in 50°C DI and tap water was shorter.
Ambient (20°C) DI water was optimal for Myrica (9.9 weeks), while stems pulsed with 10% sucrose had the shortest vase life of 2.2 weeks.
Optimum storage (5°C), light level and duration by species were: Buddleja – dark in water for up to 1 week; Buxus – light in water for up to 3 weeks; Hydrangea – cannot be stored; Ilex crenata – light or dark in water for up to 3 weeks; Ilex ‘Nellie R. Stevens’ – light in water for up to 3 weeks; Ligustrum – dark in water for up to 3 weeks; Myrica – either light or dark in water for up to 3 weeks; Pyracantha – any condition for up to 3 weeks and Viburnum – either light or dark in water for up to 1 week.
The use of floral foam adversely affected vase life of all species except Buxus.
Myrica vase life was longest with 0% sucrose in the vase solution, while Ligustrum, Ilex ‘Nellie R. Stevens’ and Viburnum vase life was longest with either 2 or 4% sucrose.
Sucrose in the vase solution had no effect on Buddleja, Buxus, Hydrangea, Ilex crenata or Pyracantha vase life.

X International Symposium on Postharvest Quality of Ornamental Plants

L. Greer, J.M. Dole, S.M. Blankenship

floral preservatives, 1-methylcyclopropene, floral foam

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2015.1060.10