Articles
Pre- and postharvest studies on Sandersonia × gloriosa ‘Firelight’ (SG84)
Article number
1104_45
Pages
295 – 302
Language
English
Abstract
Sandersonia × gloriosa ‘Firelight’ (SG84) is a promising specialty cut flower, but production and postharvest handling protocols need to be developed for optimum yields of best quality stems.
Tubers stored at 10±1°C for 4 or 5 months emerged and flowered earlier than those stored for 3 months, despite having similar production temperatures.
Moreover, storage for longer periods increased stem caliper and number of flowers per stem, but had no effect on plant height.
Cut stems treated with Floralife Hydraflor 100 for 4 h followed by Floralife Clear Professional Flower Food for 44 h had longest vase life (10.9 d) compared to stems in deionized water (8.4 d). Holding preservatives, used during flower storage/handling, were more effective than hydrators, used immediately after harvest.
Cut stems did not tolerate one to three weeks of dry storage, but were able to be stored for a week in water.
Cut stems stored dry lost fresh weight; leaves were wilted and necrotic, and stems bent during first week of storage.
The results demonstrated that tubers of ‘Firelight’ should be stored for 4 or 5 months for rapid production and greater yield of high quality stems, which should not be stored dry after harvest and should be treated with commercial preservatives for longer vase life.
Tubers stored at 10±1°C for 4 or 5 months emerged and flowered earlier than those stored for 3 months, despite having similar production temperatures.
Moreover, storage for longer periods increased stem caliper and number of flowers per stem, but had no effect on plant height.
Cut stems treated with Floralife Hydraflor 100 for 4 h followed by Floralife Clear Professional Flower Food for 44 h had longest vase life (10.9 d) compared to stems in deionized water (8.4 d). Holding preservatives, used during flower storage/handling, were more effective than hydrators, used immediately after harvest.
Cut stems did not tolerate one to three weeks of dry storage, but were able to be stored for a week in water.
Cut stems stored dry lost fresh weight; leaves were wilted and necrotic, and stems bent during first week of storage.
The results demonstrated that tubers of ‘Firelight’ should be stored for 4 or 5 months for rapid production and greater yield of high quality stems, which should not be stored dry after harvest and should be treated with commercial preservatives for longer vase life.
Authors
I. Ahmad, J.M. Dole, G.E. Clark, K.A. Funnell
Keywords
holding preservatives, hydrators, storage duration, storage method, tubers, vase life
Online Articles (75)