Effect of preharvest conditions on cut-flower quality
The cut flower industry has a global reach as flowers are often produced in countries around the equator and transported by plane or ship (reefer) mostly to the global north. Vase-life issues are often regarded as linked to only postharvest conditions while cultivation factors are just as important....
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1281456/full |
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| author | Julian C. Verdonk Wim van Ieperen Dália R. A. Carvalho Geert van Geest Rob E. Schouten |
| author_facet | Julian C. Verdonk Wim van Ieperen Dália R. A. Carvalho Geert van Geest Rob E. Schouten |
| author_sort | Julian C. Verdonk |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The cut flower industry has a global reach as flowers are often produced in countries around the equator and transported by plane or ship (reefer) mostly to the global north. Vase-life issues are often regarded as linked to only postharvest conditions while cultivation factors are just as important. Here, we review the main causes for quality reduction in cut flowers with the emphasis on the importance of preharvest conditions. Cut flower quality is characterised by a wide range of features, such as flower number, size, shape, colour (patterns), fragrance, uniformity of blooming, leaf and stem colour, plant shape and developmental stage, and absence of pests and diseases. Postharvest performance involves improving and preserving most of these characteristics for as long as possible. The main causes for cut flower quality loss are reduced water balance or carbohydrate availability, senescence and pest and diseases. Although there is a clear role for genotype, cultivation conditions are just as important to improve vase life. The role of growth conditions has been shown to be essential; irrigation, air humidity, and light quantity and quality can be used to increase quality. For example, xylem architecture is affected by the irrigation scheme, and the relative humidity in the greenhouse affects stomatal function. Both features determine the water balance of the flowering stem. Light quality and period drives photosynthesis, which is directly responsible for accumulation of carbohydrates. The carbohydrate status is important for respiration, and many senescence related processes. High carbohydrates can lead to sugar loss into the vase water, leading to bacterial growth and potential xylem blockage. Finally, inferior hygiene during cultivation and temperature and humidity control during postharvest can lead to pathogen contamination. At the end of the review, we will discuss the future outlook focussing on new phenotyping tools necessary to quantify the complex interactions between cultivation factors and postharvest performance of cut flowers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T10:54:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-50821f25cacc4f77a4632fe19448468a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T10:54:01Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-50821f25cacc4f77a4632fe19448468a2023-11-13T11:51:33ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2023-11-011410.3389/fpls.2023.12814561281456Effect of preharvest conditions on cut-flower qualityJulian C. Verdonk0Wim van Ieperen1Dália R. A. Carvalho2Geert van Geest3Rob E. Schouten4Department of Horticulture and Product Physiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, NetherlandsDepartment of Horticulture and Product Physiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, NetherlandsRijk Zwaan Breeding B.V., DeLier, NetherlandsInterfaculty Bioinformatics, Institut für Biologie, Fakultät für Naturwissenschaften und Naturwissenschaften, Universität Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandWageningen Food & Biobased Research, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, NetherlandsThe cut flower industry has a global reach as flowers are often produced in countries around the equator and transported by plane or ship (reefer) mostly to the global north. Vase-life issues are often regarded as linked to only postharvest conditions while cultivation factors are just as important. Here, we review the main causes for quality reduction in cut flowers with the emphasis on the importance of preharvest conditions. Cut flower quality is characterised by a wide range of features, such as flower number, size, shape, colour (patterns), fragrance, uniformity of blooming, leaf and stem colour, plant shape and developmental stage, and absence of pests and diseases. Postharvest performance involves improving and preserving most of these characteristics for as long as possible. The main causes for cut flower quality loss are reduced water balance or carbohydrate availability, senescence and pest and diseases. Although there is a clear role for genotype, cultivation conditions are just as important to improve vase life. The role of growth conditions has been shown to be essential; irrigation, air humidity, and light quantity and quality can be used to increase quality. For example, xylem architecture is affected by the irrigation scheme, and the relative humidity in the greenhouse affects stomatal function. Both features determine the water balance of the flowering stem. Light quality and period drives photosynthesis, which is directly responsible for accumulation of carbohydrates. The carbohydrate status is important for respiration, and many senescence related processes. High carbohydrates can lead to sugar loss into the vase water, leading to bacterial growth and potential xylem blockage. Finally, inferior hygiene during cultivation and temperature and humidity control during postharvest can lead to pathogen contamination. At the end of the review, we will discuss the future outlook focussing on new phenotyping tools necessary to quantify the complex interactions between cultivation factors and postharvest performance of cut flowers.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1281456/fullvase lifeornamental cropspathogenswater balancestomataxylem architecture |
| spellingShingle | Julian C. Verdonk Wim van Ieperen Dália R. A. Carvalho Geert van Geest Rob E. Schouten Effect of preharvest conditions on cut-flower quality Frontiers in Plant Science vase life ornamental crops pathogens water balance stomata xylem architecture |
| title | Effect of preharvest conditions on cut-flower quality |
| title_full | Effect of preharvest conditions on cut-flower quality |
| title_fullStr | Effect of preharvest conditions on cut-flower quality |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of preharvest conditions on cut-flower quality |
| title_short | Effect of preharvest conditions on cut-flower quality |
| title_sort | effect of preharvest conditions on cut flower quality |
| topic | vase life ornamental crops pathogens water balance stomata xylem architecture |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1281456/full |
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