EFFECT OF PRE-HARVEST DEFICIT IRRIGATION ON CUT FLOWER QUALITY OF EUSTOMA GRANDIFLORUM

Eustoma grandiflorum is an important crop for cut flower production and growers in Japan and Taiwan, often reduced the frequency of irrigation before harvesting the flowers; however, it is unclear how this process affects the cut flower quality.
To evaluate the effect of pre-harvest water deficit on the cut flower quality, two cultivars of Eustoma were subjected to different deficit irrigation regimens starting from the visible bud stage until harvest.
Moisture in pots was maintained at specific levels, with 10%-15%, 20%-25%, 30%-35%, and 40%-45% volumetric medium water contents, corresponding to severe, moderate, and mild water deficits, and the control, respectively.
Cut flowers harvested from the moderate-water-deficit treatment were shorter in length, and had fewer flower buds and lower fresh weight, but had a higher dry weight/fresh weight ratio compared with those of the control and mild-water-deficit treatments.
Flowers grown under a severe water deficit did not reach harvestable quality.
Cut flowers of ‘Piccolo Lime Green’ had a longer vase life, lower transpiration rates, and reduced vase solution uptake when the plants were grown under a moderate water deficit.
However, no differences were found in vase life, transpiration rates, or solution uptake rates between treatments in ‘Ex Rosa Green’. Therefore, the effect of water deficit irrigation on cut flower quality in Eustoma seems to be cultivar dependent.

XXVIII International Horticultural Congress on Science and Horticulture for People (IHC2010): International Symposium on Advances in Ornamentals, Landscape and Urban Horticulture

Ya-Ching Chuang , Yao-Chien Alex Chang

water deficit, medium water content, vase life, vase solution uptake

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2012.937.58