Post Harvest of Ornamental Cut Flowers-An Overview

Abstract

Ornamental plants occupy an important part of society, culture, religion, and economy. The
high perishability of the floral stems requires specific pre and postharvest handling contributing
positively to its conservation. In cut plants, such as the floral stems, there is an intensification of the
physiological processes to maintain its metabolism right after harvest, when the plant leaves the plant
and discontinues the supply of water and nutrients, resulting in the acceleration of its senescence.
Thus, the present study was to carry out a review of the post-harvest literature on cut flowers and
ornamental plants, including pre and post-harvest factors, solutions and preservative components.

Full text

Akshar Wangmay
International Research Journal
UGC-CARE LISTED
Special Issue - I
Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Health, Society,
Environment &
Sustainable Development
RNI MAHMAR
36829-2010
December 2020
ISSN
-
2229
-
4929
Peer Reviewed
Principal,
DPM's Shree Mallikarjun & Shri. Chetan Manju
Desai College,
Canacona
-
Goa
Executive Editor : Prof. Manoj S. Kamat
Co
-
Editor :
Prof.
F. M. Nadaf
Chief Editor : Dr. Nanasaheb Suryawanshi
Address
‘Pranav’, Rukmenagar,
Thodga Road, Ahmadpur, Dist- Latur 413515 (MS)

'Akshar Wangmay' UGC Care Listed, International Research Journal, ISSN: 2229-4929, December– 2020
Special Issue, Volume-I “Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Health, Society, Environment & Sustainable Development”
49
Post Harvest of Ornamental Cut Flowers-An Overview
Suchismita Mishra1, Sashikala Beura1, Sandeep Rout2, Gyanaranjan Sahoo3, Ajay Kumar
Prusty4, Barsha Tripathy4 and Aditya Kiran Padhiary5
1Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, College of Agriculture, OUAT, Bhubaneswar, Odisha-751003,
India
2Faculty of Agriculture, Sri Sri University, Cuttack, Odisha-754006, India
3Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Angul, Odisha-759132, India
4M.S.Swaminathan School of Agriculture, Centurion University of Technology and Management,
Paralakhemundi, Gajapati, Odisha-761211, India.
5Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sambalpur, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Odisha-768025, India
Abstract
Ornamental plants occupy an important part of society, culture, religion, and economy. The
high perishability of the floral stems requires specific pre and postharvest handling contributing
positively to its conservation. In cut plants, such as the floral stems, there is an intensification of the
physiological processes to maintain its metabolism right after harvest, when the plant leaves the plant
and discontinues the supply of water and nutrients, resulting in the acceleration of its senescence.
Thus, the present study was to carry out a review of the post-harvest literature on cut flowers and
ornamental plants, including pre and post-harvest factors, solutions and preservative components.
Introduction
The products of the flower-growing sector present high ornamental quality, mainly, in
relation to the visual aesthetics quality, that is, products without damages and harm. Nevertheless, the
ornamental flowers and plants present high perishability, due to the natural metabolic processes, such
as loss of turgidity, yellowing of the leaves, incidence of phyto-pathogens, among others, when these
processes are added implies in the precocious loss of quality and commercial value, when they are not
treated post-harvest (Menegaes et al. 2019).
Post harvest involve different types of systems through which there will be as much as possible of
minimum loss from the harvesting of the crop till it reaches the consumer in order to gain maximum
return from the crop. Flower crops are highly perishable and delicate therefore they should be handled
with utmost care so that there will be minimum loss in quality. Post harvest depends on one of the
major factor which is harvesting and it includes time of harvest, stage of harvest and method of
harvest. Right harvesting method is highly required since improper method may hamper the water
uptake of the stalk of the cut flowers. It should be cut with sharp knife or secateurs and crushing of the
stalks should be avoided. Slanting cut is usually given in order for maximum surface area available
for absorption.
Stage of harvesting is also important since if flowers are not harvested at proper time fails to
open or wither earlier thus decreasing the vase life. Stage of harvesting also depends upon the distance
of market, so it is advisable to harvest at proper time in accordance with the distance of market. Time
of harvest is crucial and it is generally recommended to harvest in mild weather that is at evening or
early morning when the sun heat is not so high and the rate of respiration is low.
Grading
Grading is sorting and grouping of flowers according to certain criteria like appearance , brushes or
blemishes, stalk length, flower colour , size, shape, form, pattern or leaves shape etc so as to get
uniform flowers to maintain quality and fetch higher price in the market (Mandal et al,2019). In India
gladiolus are graded as A, B,C and D which are fancy , special, standard and utility respectively as
followed in Society of American Florists ,Florida, USA (Sankari et al, 2013)
Bunching
Bunching is the operation done after grading of flower crops where the cut flowers are
grouped in bunches and then lightly tied with rubber band. Care should be taken bunches held in
polythene sleeves do not damage the flowers and then they are wrapped in corrugated paper so to
reduce the mechanical injury.
Rehydration
After harvest of flowers the flowers are detached from the plant so in order to maintain it
turgidity water must be supplied to the flowers so rehydration is highly essential operation. Flowers

'Akshar Wangmay' UGC Care Listed, International Research Journal, ISSN: 2229-4929, December– 2020
Special Issue, Volume-I “Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Health, Society, Environment & Sustainable Development”
50
wither rapidly when there is decline in water uptake. Rehydration of flowers determined by the water
progression between plant and vase and regulated by the air that is removed from conduction tissues
thus the cut flowers initially provided water for rapid rehydration so that once turgidity is obtained
then later can be transferred in solution of preservatives (Durkin, 1981). For hydration slightly acidic
water is preferred since alkaline water are not well taken up through stems , in order to decrease the
ph generally citric acid is added to water since flower may wilt in hard water (Balas et al. 2006)
Pulsing Pulsing operation involves treatment of flowers with higher amount of sucrose and anti
ethylene substances for short time, generally carried out for 12-2 hours and done before storage or
transport (Senapati et al,2016). Pre storage pulsing treatment has resulted in flower longevity by
maintaining the cell membrane turgidity and decreasing ethylene sensitivity at time of cold storage
(Halevy and Mayak 1979).In ethylene sensitive flower crops pretreatment with silver thiosulphate
(STS) have shown longer vase life (Balas et al. 2006) ) by inhibiting the ethylene at specific
enzymatic sites (Reid and Kofranek, 1980; Staby et al. 1993, Song et al. 1995).
Vase Solution
Vase solutions are used to hold the flowers until the termination of the vase life . Generally
various composition are used with tap water to increase the vase life of the flowers and more or less in
many flower species it doesnot have much significant in extending the vase life (Balas et al,2006
).Therefore a standard vase solution containing low concentration of CaCl2, CuSO4 and NaHCO3
along with tap water can be used to incresase the flower vase life (van Meeteren et al. 1999). Distilled
or deionised water have resulted in increase of vase life in chrysanthemum flowers (Staby and
Erwin,1978).For most of the flowers sugar serves as food material and facilitates the process to open
in vase, in general for most of the flowers solution containing 1-2% sugar is sufficient while the cut
flowers at bud stage require higher sugar concentration (Balas et al. 2006). Bioactive compound are
also used to kill the microbes blocking the stem to take up water and use of floral preservative can
increase the vase life of some cut flowers (Balas et al. 2006)
Storage
Storage is highly crucial in order to prevent market glut and timely as well as continuously
flowers made available thereby minimizing the loss. There are different methods of storage like cold
storage, controlled atmospheric storage etc.
(i) Cold storage: Cold storage is most common method of storage where flowers are harvested at
appropriate time, treated with floral preservatives and then low temperature treatments are
given at time of shipment or storage period (Senapati et al. 2016).
(ii) Wet storage- In wet storage flowers are dipped in preservative solution or water for short
period of time and are stored at 3-4 0C temperature higher compared to the dry storage
(Senapati et al. 2016).
(iii) Dry storage-Dry storage are used for long term storage where the flowers after harvest are
pulsed with floral preservatives containing biocides, anti-ethylene and sugar and packed in
polythene and lined with butter paper (Senapati et al. 2016).
(iv) Controlled atmospheric storage: It is based on control of three parameter that are oxygen,
carbon dioxide and temperature.
(v) Modified atmosphere packaging: This method of storage is economical compared to
controlled atmospheric storage where flowers depends upon the maintenance of positive
water balance in the stem and ultimate concentration of CO2 and O2 inside the packages
during storage( Singh et al. 2009).
Case study of crops
Rose Rose is the leading flower occupying first position in international flower market (Malla,
1998) having high demand all over the world. For cut flower use roses are harvested at tight bud stage
when outer one petal starts to unfold. It has been reported that harvest operation and post harvest
treatment plays important role for better quality and longevity of rose (Oene et al. 2019).For pulsing
treatment sugars are widely used for extending the keeping quality of rose. Among different kind of
sugars glucose has been reported for increasing the vase life of rose (Ichimura et al. 2002) reported
that roses before storage when handled in wet (water) for 5hours at 1°C showed improved water

'Akshar Wangmay' UGC Care Listed, International Research Journal, ISSN: 2229-4929, December– 2020
Special Issue, Volume-I “Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Health, Society, Environment & Sustainable Development”
51
status as compared with dry handled and had prolonged vase life when treated with STS (Silver
Thiosulfate) before or just after storage. (Mor , 1989).
Gladiolus
Gladiolus is one of the high ranked cut flowers in the global market. Its demand is increasing
day by day due to its wide range of flowers colours available and easy to grow flower crop. Gladiolus
is harvested when 1 to 2 lowers most floret or basal florets have started to show colour. Singh et al
2009 reported that pre-storage pulse treatment with 300 mg L-1 8-HQ for 1 h and 200 g L-1 sucrose for
12 h and in the vase solution post storage treatment with 300 mg L-1 8-HQ + 50 g L-1 sucrose have
better flower quality of the MALT stored gladiolus. In individual PE liners sealed groups of 25 spikes
in Modified atmosphere comprised of Carbon dioxide of 4-7% and Oxygen of 10-14% significantly
improved flower opening as well as longevity and followed with dry storage of 14days at 2°C
reducing the leaf and bract yellowing in mini-gladiolus (Meir,1995).
Gerbera
Gerbera is one of the beautiful and attractive flowers and has gained quick popularity among
the consumer of India. It holds fourth position in the top ten lists of the cut flowers in the global
market (Chaudhary and Prasad, 2000). Gerbera flower is harvested when the outer two rows of disc
florets opens and are perpendicular to the stalk. The gerbera flowers have longevity of about 8.6 days
when kept at 20°Cand have reached 13.8 days longevity when kept at 2°C (Berlingieri, 2009). Sharma
et al. 2016 have reported that 4% Sucrose when used with Salicylic acid Silver nitrate showed
prolonged shelf life.
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum is another popular flower in the market due to its attractive flowers available
in wide range of shapes, size, form and colour. Apart used as cut flowers these are also used as loose
flowers. Harvesting stage slight differs in case of standard and spray types. In standard flowers are
harvested when the ray florets have fully opened and disc florets are visible. Pardhaet al, 1989 have
reported that the average vase life to be 7 days but increased when cobalt chloride along with sucrose
is used. The spikes when wrapped with PP 200 gauge and stored at 3-4°C for 3 days along with 6
hours of simulated transit have shown less weight loss and maximum vase life (Srivastava et al.
2015).
Carnation
Carnations are harvested at paint brush stage when the petals have just began to unfold
resembling as a painting brush. They can be stored for about 2 weeks under normal condition and up
to 90days under low pressure condition (Thakur, 2020). Bhatia et al. 2002 have reported that with
ethylene inhibitor, biocide and sucrose have resulted in maximum vase life with better quality of
flowers. Pre-treatment with anti-ethylene substance like 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and silver
thiosulfate (STS) with sugar have increased the postharvest longevity of carnation (Ebrahimzadeh et
al. 2008).
Lilium Lilium flowers are harvested at bud colour stage when the buds have started showing colours.
Song et al, 1996 have reported that pre-treatments with Silver thiosulphate (STS) along with sucrose
and STS + GA3 + sucrose + Manganese (Mn) have extended vase life where as preservative solutions
containing 2% sucrose + 50 ppm AgNO3 + 150 ppm hydroxyquinoline sulfate (HQS) and 3% sucrose
+ 50 ppm GA3 and 200 ppm hydroxyquinoline citrate (HQC) have prolonged vase life and improved
the quality of Lilium flowers.
Conclusion
Cut flowers are central to the aesthetic, spiritual and psychological well-being of societies
independent of creed, religion, or geographic locality. In this world of increasing turmoil, it is
important that we recognize the Cut Flower should know only one boundary: its longevity, and that
we challenge that limit. The utilization of optimal flower handling procedures (increased sanitation
and innovative preservation through the use of inexpensive and environmentally-friendly products)
will result in better appearance and longer life for cut flowers and foliage, and potted plants. Flowers
of long-lasting quality mean fewer losses through the handling cycle. Ultimately they mean
heightened enjoyment and more satisfaction for and by the consumer.
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'Akshar Wangmay' UGC Care Listed, International Research Journal, ISSN: 2229-4929, December– 2020
Special Issue, Volume-I “Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Health, Society, Environment & Sustainable Development”
52
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Chief Editor
Dr. Nanasaheb Suryawanshi
Pratik Prakashan, 'Pranav, Rukmenagar, Thodga Road Ahmedpur,
Dist. Latur, -433515, Maharashtra
Executive Editor
Dr. Manoj S. Kamat
Professor & Principal
DPM's Shree Mallikarjun & Shri. Chetan Manju Desai College, Canacona-Goa
Co-Editor
Dr. F. M. Nadaf
Vice Principal & Professor of Geography
DPM's Shree Mallikarjun & Shri. Chetan Manju Desai College, Canacona-Goa
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