ISHS Acta Horticulturae 181: III International Symposium on Postharvest Physiology of Ornamentals
THE INFLUENCE OF TIME AND TEMPERATURE DURING SIMULATED SHIPMENT ON THE QUALITY OF POT PLANTS |
| Authors: | B. Sterling, P. Molenaar |
| Abstract:
Twenty species of container-grown plants were stored under different simulated shipping conditions. The climatic conditions varied from 5 to 30°C, the shipping times between 1 and 21 days, with a total of 36 different combinations of time and temperature. The plants were stored in the dark, and the relative humidity was kept at 90%. Two series of experiments were conducted, using the same time and temperature regimes. In each of the experiments the same species and cultivars of plants were obtained, from 6 growers in two different regions making a total of twelve growers, and tested accordingly. After simulated shipping the plants were taken to an evaluation room where they were judged on quality, followed by a second judgement, one week later. For a great number of products the optimal temperature appeared to be in between 10 to 15°C. The acceptable transport time varied between 1 and 21 days. Generally flowering plants were more sensitive than foliage plants and prefer lower temperatures, in these experiments. | |
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