Effects of preharvest and postharvest calcium and modified atmosphere treatments on vase life of gerbera

Abstract

In the study, the effect of preharvest and postharvest calcium (Ca) and normal (NA) and modified atmosphere (MA) storage treatments were investigated on postharvest quality and vase life of gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii cv. 'Rosalin'). Cut gerberas were preharvest sprayed and postharvest dipped in 1% CaCl2 and subsequently stored in plastic film materials with various permeabilities. Flowers were stored under NA and MA conditions in a cold room at 4 +/- 1 degrees C temperature and 80 +/- 5% relative humidity (RH). In the samples taken from 0, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 days were determined some quality changes after 7 days in vase under ambient conditions (22 +/- 1 degrees C and 60 +/- 5% relative humidity). Ca treatment with NA and MA significantly reduced postharvest quality losses. At the end of the study, best postharvest quality characteristics were obtained from 30 mu m polypropylene (PP) and PVC films with Ca.