EFFECTS OF PRODUCTION AND POSTPRODUCTION FACTORS ON LONGEVITY AND QUALITY OF KALANCHOE

Production and postproduction factors were examined to evaluate effects on postproduction performance of kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana). Fertilizer rates of 150, 300, 450 and 600 mg N l^-1 did not effect days to flowering, growth or quality.
Plants lasted 4 days longer when fertilized with 150 mg N l^-1 compared to 600 mg N 1^-1. Terminating fertilizer 4 weeks prior to flowering did not affect growth, quality or longevity.

Stage of bud development at marketability showed that plants shipped with 1 to 3 florets open lasted 12 days longer than those shipped with 75% florets open and 5 days longer than plants shipped with 25% florets open.
Buds continued to open in the postproduction environment at all marketable stages.

Response to simulated transport at 4, 13 and 21°C for 3, 6, or 9 days was cultivar dependent.
The cultivar ‘Kiebessy’ was not influenced by transport conditions while the longevity of ‘Michelle’ was reduced 1 week when transported for 9 days.
Leaf quality was maintained on both cultivars at all transport conditions.

Postproduction light and temperature had a significant effect on longevity.
Longevity increased up to 19 days when maintained at 18°C compared to 24°C. Longevity of ‘Kiebessy’ at 18, 21 and 24°C averaged 58, 45 and 39 days, respectively, and 49, 37 and 32 days, respectively, for ‘Michelle’. Plants lasted 8 days longer at 20 umol m^-2s^-1 compared to 10 umol m^-2s^-1.

A total of 27 cultivars were evaluated and all cultivars had excellent quality and longevity.
Buds continued to open and full flowering was achieved on all cultivars.
Longevity ranged from 39 days for cultivars ‘Debbie’ and ‘Goldstrike’ to 66 days for ‘Nathalie’.

XXV International Horticultural Congress, Part 8: Quality of Horticultural Products

R.T. Leonard, T.A. Nell

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, fertilizer, keeping quality, longevity, postharvest, postproduction, transport

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2000.518.15