Articles
A framework for identifying horticultural and breeding strategies for longer vase life
Article number
1397_2
Pages
7 – 14
Language
English
Abstract
Consumer satisfaction relies on long vase life.
In real-world situations, cut flower wilting is a major symptom terminating vase life.
It depends on 1) the water balance, and 2) the water potential threshold at which tissue (flower, leaf, or stem) cells lose turgor.
Water balance is further a function of loss (I) and uptake (II) of water.
Regrettably, these four traits have not been simultaneously evaluated within or across cut flower species.
Therefore, the relative importance as well as potential relationships or general patterns remain unknown.
Growing evidence suggests that environmental conditions during plant growth affect the stomatal regulation of water loss, while relevant studies on the remaining traits are scant.
Enhanced rates of water loss owing to attenuated stomatal functionality intensify the incidence of wilting.
This negative effect may be maximized or remain unnoticed depending on other postharvest conditions.
Within a given genotype, stomatal closing ability and anatomy have not been related.
Stomatal anatomy (density, size) is set during leaf development.
Instead, stomatal functioning may be disturbed by specific conditions not only during plant growth, but also across the supply chain.
Importantly, recent work abandons the idea that non-leaf tissues are an insignificant contributor to cut flower water loss.
Simultaneous analysis of associated traits along with the respective effects of the growth environment comprises a valuable context for improving vase life.
In real-world situations, cut flower wilting is a major symptom terminating vase life.
It depends on 1) the water balance, and 2) the water potential threshold at which tissue (flower, leaf, or stem) cells lose turgor.
Water balance is further a function of loss (I) and uptake (II) of water.
Regrettably, these four traits have not been simultaneously evaluated within or across cut flower species.
Therefore, the relative importance as well as potential relationships or general patterns remain unknown.
Growing evidence suggests that environmental conditions during plant growth affect the stomatal regulation of water loss, while relevant studies on the remaining traits are scant.
Enhanced rates of water loss owing to attenuated stomatal functionality intensify the incidence of wilting.
This negative effect may be maximized or remain unnoticed depending on other postharvest conditions.
Within a given genotype, stomatal closing ability and anatomy have not been related.
Stomatal anatomy (density, size) is set during leaf development.
Instead, stomatal functioning may be disturbed by specific conditions not only during plant growth, but also across the supply chain.
Importantly, recent work abandons the idea that non-leaf tissues are an insignificant contributor to cut flower water loss.
Simultaneous analysis of associated traits along with the respective effects of the growth environment comprises a valuable context for improving vase life.
Authors
D. Fanourakis
Keywords
evaluation protocol, preharvest, postharvest, stomatal functioning, water loss
Groups involved
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