Articles
Rapid leaf necrosis in cut Chrysanthemum is affected by flower form and sucrose in the vase solution
Article number
1397_6
Pages
35 – 40
Language
English
Abstract
Chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat) are the second-largest exported cut flower worldwide for their variety of shapes, colors, and forms; however, the leaves of some commercial cultivars exhibit rapid leaf necrosis during the first week in the vase.
This characteristic negatively impacts consumer perception of plant quality.
Thus, this problem is a primary concern for growers, and the cause of this phenomenon has not been known.
Two experiments were performed to identify the cause of rapid leaf necrosis in cut chrysanthemum leaves commercially grown in Colombia and shipped to the US for vase life evaluation.
The first experiment evaluated the leaf performance of chrysanthemum Peridot grown with two flower forms: one flower stem‑1 (disbud) vs. 8-10 flowers stem‑1 (spray). Stems with the spray form showed leaf necrotic symptoms while stems with disbudded forms showed good quality leaves after 10 days.
This result appears to be related with sink-source dynamics since spray stems have a larger sink demand than disbud stems due the larger flower numbers per stem.
The second experiment evaluated the effect of sucrose concentrations in the vase solution following shipping.
Stems of chrysanthemum Peridot were placed in vases with a solution of 0, 10 or 20% sucrose.
Stems with 0% sucrose in the vase solution displayed severe leaf necrotic symptoms after 2 days, while stems with 10 or 20% sucrose presented very low levels of leaf necrosis or no symptoms after 10 days.
Together, the results from both experiments suggest that the rapid leaf necrosis of chrysanthemum Peridot is related with carbohydrate depletion in the leaves during postharvest.
This characteristic negatively impacts consumer perception of plant quality.
Thus, this problem is a primary concern for growers, and the cause of this phenomenon has not been known.
Two experiments were performed to identify the cause of rapid leaf necrosis in cut chrysanthemum leaves commercially grown in Colombia and shipped to the US for vase life evaluation.
The first experiment evaluated the leaf performance of chrysanthemum Peridot grown with two flower forms: one flower stem‑1 (disbud) vs. 8-10 flowers stem‑1 (spray). Stems with the spray form showed leaf necrotic symptoms while stems with disbudded forms showed good quality leaves after 10 days.
This result appears to be related with sink-source dynamics since spray stems have a larger sink demand than disbud stems due the larger flower numbers per stem.
The second experiment evaluated the effect of sucrose concentrations in the vase solution following shipping.
Stems of chrysanthemum Peridot were placed in vases with a solution of 0, 10 or 20% sucrose.
Stems with 0% sucrose in the vase solution displayed severe leaf necrotic symptoms after 2 days, while stems with 10 or 20% sucrose presented very low levels of leaf necrosis or no symptoms after 10 days.
Together, the results from both experiments suggest that the rapid leaf necrosis of chrysanthemum Peridot is related with carbohydrate depletion in the leaves during postharvest.
Authors
S. Ortiz, J. Faust, A.M. Borda
Keywords
carbohydrates, chrysanthemum, rapid leaf necrosis, sink-source, vase life
Groups involved
Online Articles (9)