BREEDING FOR KEEPING QUALITY IN GERBERA

The number of days to folding of the stem or wilting of the petals of cut Gerbera flowers was measured in 12 parent clones and 80 of their progenies.
Prior to the vase life tests, the flowers were stored dry for 24 h.

Stiff stems are less prone to folding and early fold, which occurs within one day after dry storage, can be prevented completely.
Large genetic differences in ‘days to wilt’ of the petals are available.
Progenies lasting 16 days or individual plants holding over 20 days were found.
Parent choice is the major factor in vase life: The variation between progeny means in ‘days to wilt’ may for 78% be attributed to the parents chosen.

The main difficulty in Gerbera is the large variation in vase life between flowers of the same clone and attention should focus on this problem.

III International Symposium on Postharvest Physiology of Ornamentals

J. Jong

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1986.181.46