Heliconia ‘Golden Torch’ postharvest: stem ends cutting and renewing vase water benefits

Abstract

The postharvest longevity is one of the main aspects that should be considered in the production of cut flowers and is a pre-requisite for product quality and marketing success. However, cut flowers are highly perishable products that need to be treated and stored to maintain its quality and value. This study aimed to assess Heliconia psittacorum 'Golden Torch' inflorescences postharvest longevity, submitted to periodic stem ends cutting and vase water renewal. The experimental design was a completely randomized 3x2 factorial, corresponding to the stem ends cuts (1,0 cm; without cutting; cutting at 24 hours; cutting at 48 hours) and water renewal (with and without renewal), with four repetitions. The assessed variables were: water uptake by flower stems (WUFS); loss of fresh stem mass (LFSM); dry matter of flower stems (DMFS) and postharvest longevity (PHL). The stem cut significantly influenced WUFS and LFSM. However, the water renewal factors affected all variables, while the interaction between factors (stem cuts x water renewal) only influenced PHL. The cuts at the stem base of Heliconia 'Golden Torch' procedures enable the restoration of water potential and this practice, associated with water renewal during storage allows greater tissues hydration, maintaining the postharvest quality. Keywords: Cut flowers, vessels obstruction, postharvest quality. RESUMO Pós-colheita de helicônia 'Golden Torch': benefícios do corte na base da haste e renovação da água de vaso A longevidade pós-colheita é um dos aspectos mais relevantes da produção de flores de corte e é pré-requisito para qualidade do produto e o sucesso na comercialização. No entanto, as flores de corte são produtos altamente perecíveis que necessitam serem tratadas e armazenadas de forma a manter sua qualidade e valor. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a durabilidade pós-colheita de inflorescências de Heliconia psittacorum 'Golden Torch' submetidas a cortes periódicos na base das hastes e renovação da água de vaso. O delineamento foi o inteiramente casualizado, arranjado em esquema fatorial (3 x 2), correspondentes aos cortes (1,0 cm) na base das hastes (sem corte; corte a 24h; corte a 48h) e renovação de água (com e sem renovação), com quatro repetições. As variáveis avaliadas foram: absorção de água pelas hastes florais (WUFS); perda de massa fresca das hastes florais (LFSM); massa seca das hastes florais (DMFS) e longevidade pós-colheita (PHL). Os cortes realizados na base das hastes florais influenciaram significativamente na AAHF e PMFHF. No entanto, o fator renovação de água apresentou efeito sobre todas as variáveis analisadas, enquanto que a interação entre os fatores (cortes na base x renovação de água) influenciaram apenas a POSC. A utilização de cortes na base das hastes florais de helicônia 'Golden Torch' possibilitou o restabelecimento do potencial hídrico e essa prática associada à renovação da água durante o armazenamento permite maior hidratação dos tecidos, mantendo a qualidade de vida pós-colheita. Palavras-chave: floricultur...

Heliconias with pendent inflorescences as cut flowers

“…Golden Torch (Amaral et al, 2015;Sardinha et al, 2019), and higher than H. psittacorum and H. densiflora (Silva et al, 2019). The postharvest longevity is one of the leading characteristics of cut flowers that should be considered as pre-requisite for flower quality and selling achievement (Folha et al, 2016).…”

Review of recent advances in post-harvest techniques for tropical cut flowers and future prospects: Heliconia as a case-study

“…In Heliconia, its inflorescences (bold cincinnus type; with either an upright or pendant posture) consisting of multihued bracteate structures with spiral or distichous aestivation.) (Kress, 1984;Criley and Broschat, 1992;Criley and Paull, 1993;Castro et al, 2007;Rodrıǵuez, 2013;Costa et al, 2015;Loges et al, 2016;Souza et al, 2016). These inflorescences are popularly used as cut flowers, unlike its true flowers, which are inconspicuous in nature, usually white, yellow or orange in color, numbering from 2 to 20 and remaining enveloped by bracts (Criley and Paull, 1993, Criley and Broschat, 1992, Krause et al, 2023.…”

Postharvest physiology of cut flowers

“…However, when the base of the stem was recut every 12 h, the weight loss decreased compared with the uncut flowers, thereby improving the flower water balance. In bird-of-paradise (Strelitzia reginae), the flower water content may also be maintained by recutting 2-cm stem base every 48 h (Karsten et al, 2015;Folha et al, 2016). Such procedure led to increases in the longevity of this species by two days.…”