POSTHARVEST STUDIES OF CUT ZANTEDESCHIA INFLORESCENCES

Inflorescences of cut scapes of Zantedeschia aethiopica and Z. elliottiana were compared in postharvest keeping quality studies.
Fresh weight of spathes of Z. aethiopica decreased with time while fresh weight of scapes and spadices increased with time.
Z. aethiopica typically lasted 6 to 7 days.
Scapes held in water became occluded.
Z. aethiopica spathes had fewer stomates per unit area than those on the scape.
It is suspected that a greater percentage of water was translocated and transpired through the scape than through the spathe.

Z. elliottiana did not deteriorate solely because of water stress.
Cut scapes decreased in fresh weight, but fresh weight increased in the spathes.
Spathe tissues have larger numbers of stomates compared to scape tissue, which suggests that water was translocated and transpired through the spathe as well.
Inflorescences lasted 7 to 8 days.
Z. elliottiana spathes turned green while those of Z. aethiopica lost turgidity and gradually turned brown on the edges.
Holding scapes in 100 ppm eight hydroxy quinoline citrate (8-HQC) or 100 ppm 8-HQC plus 2% sucrose, or adjusting the water pH to 3, 5 or 7 did not improve spathe longevity.
Scapes held in water became occluded.

III International Symposium on Postharvest Physiology of Ornamentals

B.O. Tjia, K.A. Funnell

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1986.181.64