EFFECT OF HARVESTING TIME ON THE RESPIRATION RATE AND VASE LIFE OF THREE CUT ROSE CULTIVARS ‘GOLDEN GATE’, ‘DUETT’ AND ‘CREAM PROPHYTA’

The production areas for cut flowers destined for the UK, such as in Kenya, are far from the consumption areas.
This poses a challenge for growers to be able to harvest flowers at the correct stage to reach the consumer in a suitable condition.
Harvest time is fundamental as it can have a major effect on final flower quality.
In this study, the effect of harvesting time on the vase life and quality of cut flower stems of Rosa hybrida ‘Duett’, ‘Golden Gate’ and ‘Cream Prophyta’ was investigated.
Flowers were dry stored at 2°C for 10 days; control flowers were placed in vases without storage.
Flowers harvested in the afternoon had a lower rate of respiration – around 89 ml CO₂/kg/h compared to 96 ml CO₂/kg/h for morning harvested flowers.
Respiration rate affected vase life; morning harvested flowers lasted 5.5 days while afternoon harvested flowers lasted 7.83 days.
These results indicate how important timing of harvest is to quality and vase life.

VI International Postharvest Symposium

S.O. Tshwenyane, C.F.H. Bishop

cut flowers, vase life, morning harvest, dry store

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2010.877.239