Improvement the post-harvest quality of cut patumma (Curcuma alismatifolia var. Chiang Main Pink) flowers.
Chanasut U.
5th International Postharvest Symposium . Volume of Abstract . Verona, Italy 6-11 June 2004, p.50
2004
บทคัดย่อ
Improvement the post-harvest quality of cut patumma (Curcuma alismatifolia var. Chiang Main Pink) flowers.
Patumma or ‘Siam tulip’ var. Chiang Mai Pink is newly export cut flowers to the international market from Thailand.The exported quantity has been reported very low due to the lack of suitable post-harvest management.In the present study, the effects of various treatments on their vase life and post-harvest quality were investigated.The vase life of patumma is approximately 12 to 14 days, depended on the flowering season.The vase life of these flowers is condidered terminated when comma bract colour faded or withered.Inflorescence stems deflated and their color turned yellow while holding in distilled water also terminate the flower longevity.Water balance in the inflorescence is the major problem determining the post-harvest quality of cut patumma flowers.The rapid decreasing of water uptake within four days after harvested trigged the deflation of inflorescence stem.A pulsing treatment with the mixture of the plant growth regulators (gibberellic acid and benzyladenine) delayed inflorescence stem collapsed, therefore, the vase life can be extended.Ethylene has little effect on comma bract but can cause early wilting of the true flowers.Pulsing treatment with 1mM silver thiosulfate (STS) for two hours improved the number of true flowers opening and the period of flowers opened, but had no effects on the inflorescence longevity.Various chemicals being dissolved in the vase solution shower no effect on prolonging their vase life and caused inflorescence stem to collapse earlier.Effects of each chemical treatment on the longevity and post-harvest quality of cut patumma flowers will be discussed.