Durability of Anthurium plowmanii leaves in different harvest stages
A.C. Albuquerque, A.C.R. de Castro, F.A.S. Aragão, V. Loges, E.B. Morais
Acta Horticulturae 1000: 189-193.
2013
บทคัดย่อ
Anthurium plowmanii is a tropical plant that stands out due the beauty of its foliage and high postharvest durability. Despite being a native species with great aesthetic value, its cultivation is restricted and little is known about its potential of use and optimum harvest stage. The objective of this study was to evaluate the longevity of cut A. plowmanii leaves at three different maturity stages. The experimental design was completely randomized with 10 replicates. Three fully expanded leaves were harvested counting from the apex: first leaf (T1), second leaf (T2) and third leaf, the oldest one (T3). The following parameters were evaluated: leaf blade length and width and petiole diameter, leaf thickness and leaf weight. The leaves were kept in distilled water and their longevity in days after cutting (DAC) was observed weekly according to a score criteria. The T1 leaves had the longest postharvest life (21.2 DAC) until the first symptoms of senescence appeared, followed by T2 (9.6 DAC) and T3 (5.6 DAC), which lost their commercial value quickly. The symptoms of senescence in order of appearance was leaf yellowing at the margins followed by spots along or near the primary vein, internerval leaf yellowing and finally dryness and wrinkling of margins. Positive correlation was observed between T1 leaves longevity and both thickness and length of the limb. Therefore, younger leaves with greater thickness and length of the blade will have the longest postharvest life after cutting.