ISHS Acta Horticulturae 368: International Symposium on Postharvest Treatment of Horticultural Crops
WATER BALANCE IN CUT ANTHURIUM FLOWERS IN STORAGE AND ITS EFFECT ON QUALITY |
| Authors: | C.K. Sankat, S. Mujaffar |
| Keywords: | Anthurium x ferrierense Hort., water uptake, water loss, accumulation, temperature, senescence, vase life |
| Abstract:
The basic components of water balance (water uptake, water loss and water accumulation) and their relationship to senescence and vase life were studied in cut anthuriums stored under ambient (28 °C) and refrigerated conditions (8 °C, 13 °C, 18 °C). The rates of water uptake, water loss (transpiration) and water accumulation at all storage temperatures declined rapidly from 8.805 x 10-4 g/cm2 spathe/h, 7.610 x 10-4 g/cm2 spathe/h and 1.244 x 10-4 g/cm2 spathe/h respectively during the first five days of postharvest life. Beyond this time, these rates declined slowly. As the storage temperature was lowered, the rates of both water uptake and loss reduced. For all storage temperatures, water uptake rates were directly proportional to the sum of the rates of water loss and water accumulation. The constant of proportionality averaged 1.0044 with a range of 0.9559–1.0492. The ratio of transpiration rate to uptake rate was less than or equal to 1 for the first ten days of ambient (28 °C) storage. During this time flower fresh weight and moisture content percentages increased by 2 % and 11 % respectively. By the 20th day of ambient storage, the ratio of transpiration rate: uptake rate increased to 1.62 and both the fresh weight and moisture content of the cut flowers fell below their original values, with 60 % of the flowers becoming unmarketable. Flowers stored at 18 °C maintained a good balance (a ratio of 1) between transpiration and uptake for up to 20 days. After this time transpiration exceeded uptake, flower fresh weight and moisture percentages decreased and flowers began showing signs of deterioration with 60 % becoming unmarketable by the 30th day. An excellent balance between transpiration and uptake, as reflected by ratios ranging from 0.86 to 1.04, was maintained in flowers stored at 13 °C for the duration of the storage trial (30 days). Such flowers showed higher fresh weights and moisture contents compared to their original values, and were slightly deteriorated but still marketable after 30 days in storage. Flowers stored at 8 °C lost their marketability after 10 days in storage as they rapidly developed spathe blueing and browning, symptoms of chilling at this low temperature. | |
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