, leaf and stem discoloration, drying or general stem decline, depending on the species ( Table 1 ). Vase-life data were collected and analyzed using analysis of variance (SAS 9.1; SAS Institute, Cary, NC). For genera with more than one cultivar, data
The cut flower industry faces many challenges due to the difficulty in producing flowers with a long postharvest vase life. To ensure a longer vase life, growers must carefully regulate postharvest conditions and postharvest handling methods. Water
Vase life of cut flowers is dependent on many variables, including the quality of the water in which the flowers are placed ( Conrado et al., 1980 ; Durkin, 1979 ; Halevy and Mayak, 1979 ). Durkin (1979 ) highlighted the importance of water
Photoperiodic response and vase life of 28 cultivars of ornamental sunflower (Helianthus annuus) were evaluated. Plants were grown in a glasshouse under 16-hour long-day (LD) or 11.5-hour shortday (SD) conditions. Most cultivars (82%) reached visible flower bud stage earlier under SD than LD. All cultivars flowered under both SD and LD conditions, but in 26 cultivars (92.9%) flowering was significantly delayed under LD, demonstrating them to be quantitative SD plants. The delay was variable among the cultivars. A 14-day or greater hastening of flowering was found under SD in 18 cultivars. Photoperiod had no effect on flowering of `Lemon Eclair' and `Moonshadow'; these cultivars are day-neutral (DN) plants. For some cultivars the LD photoperiod increased plant height and the number of nodes and leaves. Vase life varied from 6.8 to 11.2 days depending on the cultivar, but no photoperiodic effect was found.
After storage at different temperatures for a simulated transportation period, the vase lives at 20 °C (68 °F) of carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus `Imperial White'), daffodils (Narcissus pseudonarcissus `King Alfred'), iris (Iris hollandica `Telstar'), killian daisies (Chrysanthemum maximum), paperwhite narcissus (Narcissus tazetta `Paperwhite'), roses (Rosa {XtimesX} hybrida `Ambiance'), and tulips (Tulipa gesneriana) decreased with increasing storage temperature. There were no significant differences between the vase life of flowers stored dry and flowers stored in water when storage temperatures were from 0 to 10 °C (32 to 50 °F). The vase life after wet storage at temperatures of 12.5 °C (54.5 °F) and greater was significantly higher than vase life after dry storage at those temperatures for all the flowers studied. Iris and carnation flowers survived storage at 15 and 20 °C (59 and 68 °F) only when stored in water.
Refrigerated (2 °C) controlled atmospheres significantly increased the mortality of green peach aphids [Myzus persicae (Sulzer)] and western flower thrips [Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande)] in laboratory experiments. However, insect mortality during marine shipment in mixedload containers at 0.5 °C did not significantly increase in a controlled atmosphere. In laboratory experiments, mortality of green peach aphids ranged from 32.8% in the refrigerated control to 96.8% after storage in 0.10% O2 for 4 d followed by 7 d in 3% O2 with 5% CO2. When stored under these same conditions, western flower thrips mortality was 71% compared to 16% mortality in the refrigerated control. Following an 11-day marine shipment from California to Guam in a controlled atmosphere, vase life was extended for most of the 20 California cut-flower and foliage products compared to those shipped in the refrigerated air control.
Lilies and gladioli are among the most important cut flowers grown throughout the world. However, leaf chlorosis is a major postharvest disorder that can limit their vase life. The chlorosis starts on lower leaves and proceeds upward, reducing stem
appearance is maintained ( Dole et al. 2017 ). The expected vase life of ornamental peppers is 7 to 10 d, but it can vary greatly depending on the cultivar, fruit size, fruit count, and preharvest and postharvest production conditions. Foliage may be stripped
conducted to compare the effectiveness of wet vs. dry storage in maintaining quality and vase life extension of two of the most important U.S. field-grown specialty cut species (lisianthus and zinnia) and two of the most important Pakistan cut flower species
metabolic processes and continued flower opening during vase life. Among acidifiers, citric acid is the most common compound and is used to lower the pH of the preservative solutions and control microbial proliferation. Citric acid has been found effective