Post-harvest Physiology of Flowers from the Family Gentianaceae

Abstract

Gentian flowers, with their diversity of color and form, have a long post-harvest life. Eustoma grandiflorum is the most studied species of gentian. There are also a limited number of post-harvest studies on cut flowers of Gentiana triflora and G. scabra, and flowers of potted plants of Exacum affine. The research that has been conducted has focused largely on improving the opening of buds, which is the key to increasing the longevity of inflorescences. Additional carbohydrates provided exogenously, required for bud opening, also prevent premature wilting. Researchers have examined the effects of cultivars, preharvest growing conditions (light, plant nutrition, and age), harvest maturity, post-harvest changes (amino acid contents, growth, geotropism, pollination-induced senescence, and ethylene sensitivity), the effect of growth regulators (ethylene inhibitors, auxins, cytokinins, abscisic acid, and gibberellins), vase solution germicides, and post-harvest storage (transportation). The results of these studies and their contribution to our understanding of the post-harvest physiology of gentian flowers are discussed in this review. IntroductionA number of species of the family Gentianaceae (Gentiana; gentian) are common in the commercial flower trade, notably cut flowers of Eustoma (the Texas gentian) and pot plants of Exacum (Persian violet). Gentiana triflora and G. scabra are the Japanese species produced most extensively as cut flowers, other than Eustoma. The flowers and plants are appreciated for their diversity of color and form, and their relatively long post-harvest life.Eustoma grandiflorum (Raf.) Shinners [Syn. Eustoma russellianum (Hook.) G. Don] is known as lisianthus, Texas bluebell or prairie gentian. It has been an

De Novo Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Flowering-Related Genes That Potentially Contribute to Flowering-Time Control in the Japanese Cultivated Gentian Gentiana triflora

“…Except for a minority of potted plants grown in greenhouses, gentians are usually cultivated in the field; thus, controlling their growth and flowering time is challenging. Several pre- and post-harvest studies have been conducted to assess the quality and longevity of cut gentian flowers [ 2 , 3 , 4 ], and the results depend on cultivar and species; therefore, a universal method for extending gentian flower life has not been established. In contrast to chrysanthemums, which are short-day plants for which flowering time can be controlled using photoperiodic lighting (e.g., by day-length extension or night breaks) [ 5 ], Japanese cultivated gentians are considered day-neutral plants [ 6 ], like tomato and cucumber [ 7 , 8 ].…”