Control of leaf yellowing and postharvest longevity of Alstroemeria in different preservative solutions

Abstract

Alstroemeria faces a stressful condition during its postharvest phase, as the leaves tend to yellow before the senescence of the flowers. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate and compare the efficacy of different solutions previously recommended for the postharvest conservation of Alstroemeria hybrida L. cv. Akemi. The preservatives solutions tested included Florissant 210® with chlorine, 1-methylcyclopropene, benzyladenine, cycloheximide, silver thiosulfate, salicylic acid, spermine, silver nanoparticles, calcium chloride, gibberellin, Florissant 210®, Crystal, along with two control treatments using tap water and artesian well water. The results indicated significant differences when comparing the different water sources used in preparing the solutions. An increase in microbial population was observed over time postharvest, with genera Pseudomonas spp. and Bacillus identified. When tap water was utilized, the most suitable solutions included the addition of benzyladenine, gibberellin, Florissant 210®, Crystal, and Florissant 210® with chlorine. These results inform producers about selecting preservatives and water sources to enhance postharvest longevity and quality.

Keywords

• Alstroemeria hybrida
• cut flowers
• microbiology
• preservative solutions