Effects of temperature and different pulsing on postharvest quality of cut Alstroemeria flowers

Since leaf yellowing in most cultivars of Alstroemeria cut flowers occurs before petal abscission, many researches have been done to delay chlorophyll degradation by various preservative solutions. In this study effect of pulse treatment of gibberellic acid (GA₃), sucrose and 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate (8-HQS) in combination to each other at two temperature levels, 22°C and 5°C, on postharvest quality of Alstroemeria cut flowers investigated. Results showed keeping Alstroemeria cut flowers at 5°C without any treatment significantly extended time to petal abscission (34.7 days) and leaf yellowing(32 days) compared to 22°C. Atbothtemperatures the pulsing treatment with 0.25 mMGA₃ + 3% sucrose +200 mg L⁻¹ 8-HQS prolongedleaf and flower longevity, delayedchlorophyll degradationand increasedwater uptakeandfresh weight of Alstroemeria cut flowers. But there was no significant difference between total soluble solids of petal of various treatments.