ISHS Acta Horticulturae 41: Symposium on Postharvest Physiology of Cut Flowers
PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATION OF HYPOBARIC STORAGE OF CUT FLOWERS |
| Authors: | D.R. Dilley, W.J. Carpenter |
| Abstract:
Hypobaric ventilation with moist air at 0°C markedly extends longevity of cut carnations and several other flowers. 'Sleepiness' or failure of bud stage carnations to open properly was completely prevented in flowers following up to 9 weeks at 50 Torr and 0°C. The decorative life of a bud or fully open carnation in holding solutions was generally as good or better than freshly harvested flowers. Maintenance of hyponormal ethylene levels in flowers during storage in addition to the low 02 partial pressure is apparently responsible for prolonging the keepability of cut flowers. The exceptionally good post-storage longevity is partly explained by a lower ethylene production rate subsequent to transferring the flowers from hypobaric storage to holding solutions at 20°C. The lower ethylene production rate delayed the normal onset of autocatalytic ethylene production which initiates carnation senescence. Stored and fresh carnations were induced to produce ethylene and senesce by exogenous olefins. | |
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