scholarly journals Continuous Automatic Measurement of Water Uptake and Water Loss of Cut Flower Stems

HortScience ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 509-512 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peitao Lü ◽  
Xinmin Huang ◽  
Hongmei Li ◽  
Jiping Liu ◽  
Shenggen He ◽  
...  

In studying the postharvest water relations of cut flowers, researchers aim to determine rates of water uptake and water loss along with changes in fresh weight. An automatic apparatus was devised for continuous monitoring of these indices. The novel apparatus consists of two balances automatically recording mass at a relatively high data acquisition rate (min−1), a personal computer, two containers, and plastic tubing. The apparatus is accurate, labor-saving, and real-time. It enabled dynamic synchronous recording of water uptake as well as fresh weight of the cut flower stem, from which precise water uptake loss rates during vase life can be accurately determined. Rates of water uptake and water loss of individual cut rose (Rosa hybrida cv. Movie Star) stems were measured using the apparatus under alternating 12-h light and dark periods. Both water uptake and water loss rates fluctuated with the light to dark shift over 120 h of observation. Stem fresh weight increased rapidly over the first 40 h of vase period and decreased gradually thereafter. Cut lily (Lilium hybrida cv. Yellow Overlord) stems showed similar trends in water uptake and water loss rate to cut rose stems. The accuracy and sensitivity of the new apparatus was validated by comparison with manual weighing using a balance at 2-h intervals under alternating 12-h light and dark periods over 108 h. The apparatus described here constitutes a suitable method for direct measurement of water uptake and fresh weight, including capturing relatively rapid water balance responses to changes in the postharvest environment.

2002 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 637
Author(s):  
K.-L. Huang ◽  
L.-J. Liao ◽  
R.-S. Shen ◽  
W.-S. Chen ◽  
Y.-H. Lin

Continuous postharvest treatment of cut rose flowers (Rosa hybrida L. cv. Diana) with maleic acid hydrazide (1.2-dihydro-3,6-pyridazinedione, MH) at 560.5 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate (HQS) at 388.4 HQS, MH + HQS or sucrose + HQS treatments. The longevity of flowers in MH + sucrose in combination with HQS was extended for 18 days after vase treatments, whereas the longevity of cut flowers was only 4, 6 and 8 days for HQS, MH + HQS and sucrose + HQS, respectively. Cut roses treated with MH + sucrose + HQS in vase solution exhibited greater water uptake and less water loss than those in HQS. The concentrations of various sugars in petals were highest in the sucrose + HQS treatment, and MH + sucrose + HQS > MH + HQS > HQS. Ethylene production was significantly lower in sucrose + HQS or MH + sucrose + HQS treatments in comparison to MH + HQS, or HQS.


2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 364-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elnaz SOLEIMANY-FARD ◽  
Khodayar HEMMATI ◽  
Ahmad KHALIGHI

Keeping quality and length of vase life are important factors for evaluation of cut flowers quality, for both domestic and export markets. Studding the effect of pre- and post-harvest salicylic acid applications on keeping quality and vase life of cut alstroemeria flowers during vase period is the approach taken. Aqueous solutions of salicylic acid at 0.0 (with distilled water), 1, 2 and 3 mM were sprayed to run-off (approximately 500 mL per plant), about two weeks before flowers harvest. The cut flowers were harvested in the early morning and both of cut flowers treated (sprayed) and untreated were kept in vase solutions containing salicylic acid at 0.0 (with distilled water), 1, 2 and 3 mM. Sucrose at 4% was added to all treatments as a base solution. The changes in relative fresh weight, water uptake, water loss, water balance, total chlorophyll content and vase life were estimated during vase period. The results showed that the relative fresh weight, water uptake, water balance, total chlorophyll content and vase life decreased significantly while the water loss increased significantly during experiment for all treatments. A significant difference between salicylic acid and control treatments in all measured parameters is observed. During vase period, the salicylic acid treatments maintained significantly a more favourable relative fresh weight, water uptake, water balance, total chlorophyll content and supressed significantly water loss, as compared to control treatment. Also, the results showed that the using salicylic acid increased significantly the vase life cut alstroemeria flowers, over control. The highest values of measured parameters were found when plants were treated by pre + post-harvest application of salicylic acid at 3 mM. The result revealed that the quality attributes and vase life of cut alstroemeria flowers were improved by the use of salicylic acid treatment.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agata Jedrzejuk ◽  
Julia Rochala ◽  
Jacek Zakrzewski ◽  
Julita Rabiza-Świder

During the vase life of cut stems obstruction of xylem vessels occurs due to microbial growth, formation of tyloses, deposition of materials in the lumen of xylem vessels and the presence of air emboli in the vascular system. Such obstructions may restrict water uptake and its transport towards upwards thus lowering their ornamental value and longevity of cut flowers.Clematisis a very attractive plant material which may be used as cut flower in floral compositions. Nothing is known about the histochemical or cytological nature of xylem blockages occurring in cut stems of this plant. This study shows that inclematis, tyloses are the main source of occlusions, although bacteria and some amorphic substances may also appear inside the vessels. A preservative composed of 200 mg dm−38-HQC (8-hydroxyquinolin citrate) and 2% sucrose arrested bacterial development and the growth of tyloses. This information can be helpful in the development of new treatments to improve keeping qualities of cutclematisstems.


HortScience ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 659d-659
Author(s):  
Gloria McIntosh ◽  
Gerald Klingaman

Several cut flower species were studied to determine their feasibility for cut flower production. Three fertilizer treatments (0.5, .1, and .15kg/m2 respectively) were used and their effect on number of stems, stem length and fresh weight were determined. Celosia cristata and Ageratum houstonianum `Blue Horizon' proved to respond best to fertilizer treatments. Celosia fertilized at a rate of .15kg/m2 will produce approximately 200 stems/m2. Ageratum will produce appoximately 400 stems/m2 when fertilized at a rate of .10kg/m2. Fertlizer rates of .10 and .15 kg/m2 for Eustoma culture yielded 86 stems/m2, which was lower than other species used in this test. Extended vase life and consumer response could possibly justify using this species in cut flower production. An economic break-even analysis will be presented to show what price will have to be received per stem to cover costs.


2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Takanori Horibe ◽  
Maho Makita

AbstractDeveloping a method for the control of cut flower opening and improvement of cut flower quality is important to meet consumer demand. In this study, we investigated the effects of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) on flower opening of three rose cultivars: ‘Red Star,’ ‘Princes Meg,’ and ‘Madrid’. Shoot bases of cut roses were immersed in water solutions containing 100- or 1000-μM MeJA in addition to 2% weight/volume (w/v) sucrose and 0.02% w/v 8-hydroxyquinoline monohydrate. Subsequently, the vase life, flower opening, petal wilting, petal weight, water uptake, and water evaporation were measured. Flower opening of all three cultivars was clearly delayed following the treatment with MeJA, resulting in prolonged vase life compared with control. In addition, flower wilting was suppressed in all cultivars. Moreover, 7 days following treatment, the petal fresh weight was maintained high in the ‘Red Star’ and ‘Princes Meg’ cultivars. However, there was no significant difference in the ‘Madrid’ cultivar versus control. In all three cultivars, there was a minimal difference in the total amount of water uptake and evaporation. Thus, it is suggested that the total amount of water uptake and evaporation have limited relevance to the changes in the relative fresh weight of cut roses and petal fresh weight observed following treatments. Despite the difference in the sensitivity of the rose cultivars to treatment with MeJA, we conclude that MeJA has high potential as a quality retention agent for cut roses.


Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1704
Author(s):  
Sabir Aziz ◽  
Adnan Younis ◽  
Muhammad Jafar Jaskani ◽  
Rashid Ahmad

The short vase life is the major problem in the cut flower industry. This study was conducted to evaluate the role of different vase solutions and oils in enhancing the quality and vase life of lily cut flowers. Salicylic acid (SA; 300 mg L−1), citric acid (CA; 300 mg L−1), gibberellic acid (GA; 100 mg L−1), and clove oil (200 mg L−1) were used as vase solutions. These treatments were applied after pulsing with preoptimized sucrose 5%. It was found that SA (300 mg L−1) + sucrose (5%) improved the performance of cut flowers, which further increased the longevity of all tested lily cultivars up to eight days and the longest vase life by 17.6 days. The maximum change in fresh weight (5.60 g), increase in chlorophyll contents (3.2 SPAD value), highest protein content (6.1 mg g−1 FW), and increase in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) (51.0 U g−1 protein), catalase (CAT) (36.3 U g−1 protein), and peroxidase (POD) (41.6 U g−1 protein), were recorded with the CA (300 mg L−1) + sucrose 5%. Among the cultivars, “Zambesi” performed best compared to “Sorbonne” and “Caesars”. The maximum anthocyanin contents (198%) were recorded in “Caesars”. In conclusion, among the different preservative solutions, SA performed best to prolong the vase life and quality of lily cut flowers.


2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamaladin Sharifzadeh ◽  
Moazzam Hassanpour Asil ◽  
Zeynab Roein ◽  
Muhammad Sharifzadeh

AbstractCut lisianthus flowers have a short vase life, possibly due to blockage of xylem vessels. The effect of 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate, sucrose and peroxidase inhibitors on delaying senescence and extending vase life of cut lisianthus flowers was tested. The peroxidase inhibitors used in this experiment were catechol (CH) (5, 10, 15 mM) and p-phenylenediamine (PD) (5, 10, 15 mM). All vase solutions contained 200 mg-dm-3 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate (8-HQC) and 3% sucrose. 10 mM CH treatment was the most effective for vase life extension (13.3 days), increasing water uptake, and delaying fresh weight loss. The vase solution containing 10 mM CH significantly increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and decreased peroxidase (POD) activities. Similarly, 10 mM PD increased anthocyanin content more than the other treat–ments. Protein degradation was significantly delayed by application of 5 mM PD. The malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation was reduced when CH at 5 mM and PD in 5 and 15 mM were added to the vase solution. Results indicated that peroxidase inhibitors in combination with 8-HQC and sucrose increase vase life of lisianthus by improving water uptake and delaying fresh weight loss.


2009 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-174
Author(s):  
F. Hassan

This investigation was carried out to study the effect of 100, 200 and 300 ppm 8-hydroxyquinoline sulphate (8-HQS) and 5 and 10% sucrose treatments on the vase life and post-harvest quality of cut flowers of Strelitzia reginae Ait. and Hippeastrum vittatum Herb. cv. Apple Blossome. All possible combinations of 8-HQS and sucrose were tested. The treatments were applied as holding solutions, and control flowers were held in distilled water till the end of the experiment. All the treatments significantly increased the vase life and number of open florets of Strelitzia reginae cut flowers compared to the control. Applying 8-HQS and sucrose treatments in both seasons improved the vase life and floret longevity of Hippeastrum vittatum cut flowers. In addition, the percentage of fresh weight gain from the initial weight and the carbohydrate content were also enhanced in both cut flower crops. In order to obtain the highest post-harvest quality of Strelitzia reginae Ait. and Hippeastrum vittatum Herb. cv. Apple Blossome cut flowers, treatment with 200 ppm 8-HQS + 10% sucrose was recommended.


2013 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agata Jędrzejuk ◽  
Julia Rochala ◽  
Julia Rochala

During vase life of cut flowers obstructions in stem xylem vessels develop. Such obstructions may restrict water uptake in stems and its transport towards flowers, thus lowering their ornamental value and longevity. <em>Clematis </em>is a very attractive plant which can be used as a cut flower in floral compositions. However, nothing is known about the histochemical or cytolo- gical nature of xylem blockages occurring in cut stems of this plant. Observations carried out on <em>Clematis </em>cv. 'Solidarność' proved that tyloses appeared as a principal source of xylem blockage in cut stems. The preservative composed of 200 mg × dm-3 8-HQC (8-hydroxyquinolin citrate) and 2% sucrose arre-sted development of xylem blockage, while the vessels in stems kept in water were filled with tyloses or an amorphic substance. PAS reaction proved that polysaccharides were present in the xylem occlusions, whereas no homogalacturonans were immunolocalized in tyloses using JIM 5 and JIM 7 antibodies. The present study provides new information on the origin of xylem occlusions in clematis and their development in two different vase solutions. Such information can be useful to develop pro- per postharvest treatments aiming to improve keeping qualities of this new cut flower.


2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 263
Author(s):  
Edwin Pulido ◽  
Francine Cuquel ◽  
Raquel Negrelle

Genus Vriesea of the Bromeliaceae family are highly appreciated to use as ornamental plant due to their floral morphological characteristics, color and the beauty of inflorescences. V. incurvata has been commercialized as a potted ornamental plant. The morphological features of its floral scape may also indicate it for use as a cut flower. However, there are no information available to use of this bromeliad as a cut flower. The aim of this study was to determine quantitative and qualitative criteria in order to evaluate the postharvest behavior of V. incurvata floral scapes. It was observed that V. incurvata floral scapes has great potential to use as cut flower, which has an average of vase-life of 14.9 ± 1.5 days. Quantitative and qualitative characteristics such as color (L*, C*, H°), brightness, turgidity, stiffness, presence of injuries, relative fresh weight, water uptake and loss can be indicated as postharvest evaluation criteria of V. incurvata floral scapes.


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