1. Postharvest handling of cut flowers
Advanced Course on
Postharvest Technology
November 2003, Mauritius
Dr. Ron Porat
Dept. of Postharvest Science of Fresh Produce
ARO, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel

2. Among horticultural crops, cut flowers have perhaps the highest commercial value but are most perishable: they loose a lot of water, have high respiration rates, and are susceptible to physical damage.

3. Factors affecting postharvest longevity and quality of cut flowers
Maturity stage
Carbohydrate supply
Temperature
Water loss
Ethylene
Mechanical damage
Diseases

4. Maturity stage
Cut flowers are usually picked when the buds are starting to open. (rose, gladiolus).
In some cases, the flowers must be picked open (chrysantemum, carnation).

5. Carbohydrate supply
The reserves of starch and carbohydrates in the leaves and stems are usually not enough to support energy for proper bud opening and maintenance.
Therefore, cut flowers are often pulsed for up to 24 h with a solution containing sugars (from 2 to 20% sucrose).
Control
5% Sucrose
Liatris

6. Temperature
Flowers have high respiration rates, which increases logarithmically with increasing temperatures.
Cooling slows respiration and delays senescence.
The optimal storage temperatures for most cut flowers are between 0-2ºC.
Tropical flowers, like anthurium and several orchids, that are sensitive to low temperatures should be kept at 10-13ºC.

7. Forced-air cooling of cut flowers

8. Water loss
Flowers have a large surface area and, therefore, they loose water rapidly.
Flowers should be stored at low temperatures and at a relative humidity of 95% to reduce water loss and wilting.
The main causes for problems in water uptake are:
Air embolism: occurs when bubbles of air are drawn into the stems at the time of cutting.
Air bubbles can be removed by re-cutting the stem.
Bacterial plugging: Growth of fungi and bacteria can plug the water transpiration system. To avoid this, holding solutions should be acidic (pH 3.5) and contain germicides.

9. Ethylene Many flowers perish rapidly in response to ethylene.
Carnations, orchids, etc. – ethylene induces senescence
Snapdragon, delphinium, etc. - ethylene induces abscission
It is important to avoid pollution with ethylene, to remove ethylene from storage rooms by ventilation, and to treat the flowers with ethylene action inhibitors (STS, 1-MCP).

10. Mechanical damage
Bruising and injuries are undesirable from an aesthetic point of view, but also provide pathogen invasion sites.
The cut flowers must be wrapped carefully and be protected by polyethylene sleeves, shredded paper, etc.

11. Diseases
Decay, especially gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea, provides a major cause for postharvest losses.
The cut flowers should be kept at low temperatures without water condensation.

12. Effect of combined treatment of pulsing and spraying with TOG-MJ-1 on appearance of various cut rose cultivars following artificial infection with Botrytis
(Spraying with 0.6% TOG-MJ-1 / pulsing with 0.4% TOG-MJ-1)
Red Charm
Control
TOG-MJ-1 B.
Frisco
Control
TOG-MJ-1 C.
Pink Tango
Control D.
TOG-MJ-1
Control
TOG-MJ-1 E.
Tamara
Carmen
Control
TOG-MJ-1 A.
Sun Beam
TOG-MJ-1 F.
Control
7 days in vase life

13. Postharvest handling of cut flowers
Grading
Bunching and sleeving
Chemical pulse treatments
Packing
Cooling
Dry or wet storage
Transportation
Marketing

14. Postharvest vase solutions
Vase solutions typically contain:
Low concentrations of sugar (0.5-2%)
A biocide [usually hydroxyquinoline (HQC) or TOG]
Citric acid (300 ppm) to keep a low pH.

15. Handling requirements of some representative cut flowers
Anthurium
* Storage at 10-12C.
* Prevent mechanical damage by wrapping with plastic sleeves and fill-packing boxes with shredded paper.

16. Roses
Pulse treatments with fungicides (vinclozolin, iprodione, copper) against Botrytis cinerea.
Storage at low temperature (0-2C) without water condensation.
Usually, not treated with sugar or ethylene inhibitors.
Add bleach to the vase solution.

17. Gerbera Are long lasting (till 20 days). Add bleach to vase solution
Trim stems every few days

18. Lilium
Pulse treatment with GA and STS.
Add bleach to vase solution

19. Gladiolus
Pulse with high concentrations of sugar (10%), STS and a fungicide.

20. Thank you for your attention!