Articles
POTENTIAL FOR HOT-AIR DISINFESTATION OF PROTEA FLOWERS
Article number
602_7
Pages
61 – 65
Language
English
Abstract
A promising, nontoxic quarantine treatment for cut protea flowers is the use of hot air.
Previous research demonstrated that hot air at 44° C, 60% relative humidity for 60 min significantly reduced western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in chrysanthemum flowers without heat damage to flowers.
Studies conducted on Leucospermum High Gold and L. Pohaka La Hawaii indicated that protea flowers were damaged by hot-air treatment at 44° C for 60 min.
In another trial, Leucadendron Safari Sunset and Banksia spp. (B. baxteri, B. speciosa and B. prionotes) that were first conditioned in hot air at 39 and 41° C for 15 min prior to hot-air treatment at 44° C for 60 min, were not heat damaged and suffered no significant reduction in vase life.
Conditioning protea flowers will increase their tolerance to heat and allow the effective use of hot-air to disinfest flowers.
Further research is needed to confirm thermo-tolerance of other cultivars and to verify the efficacy of heat treatments against quarantine pests of protea.
Previous research demonstrated that hot air at 44° C, 60% relative humidity for 60 min significantly reduced western flower thrips (WFT), Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in chrysanthemum flowers without heat damage to flowers.
Studies conducted on Leucospermum High Gold and L. Pohaka La Hawaii indicated that protea flowers were damaged by hot-air treatment at 44° C for 60 min.
In another trial, Leucadendron Safari Sunset and Banksia spp. (B. baxteri, B. speciosa and B. prionotes) that were first conditioned in hot air at 39 and 41° C for 15 min prior to hot-air treatment at 44° C for 60 min, were not heat damaged and suffered no significant reduction in vase life.
Conditioning protea flowers will increase their tolerance to heat and allow the effective use of hot-air to disinfest flowers.
Further research is needed to confirm thermo-tolerance of other cultivars and to verify the efficacy of heat treatments against quarantine pests of protea.
Publication
Authors
A.H. Hara, L.L. Burnham Larish, M.M.C. Tsang
Keywords
heat treatment, vase life, quarantine pests, thermotolerance, conditioning
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