Vol. 29 No. 2-3 (2015): Special issue on Postharvest
Articles

Evaluation of postharvest storage and treatments in cut ruscus foliage

Roberta Bulgari
Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali, Produzione, Territorio, Agroenergia, Università degli studi di Milano, Via Celoria, 2, 20133 Milano
M. Negri
Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali, Produzione, Territorio, Agroenergia, Università degli studi di Milano, Via Celoria, 2, 20133 Milano
A. Ferrante
Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali, Produzione, Territorio, Agroenergia, Università degli studi di Milano, Via Celoria, 2, 20133 Milano

Published 2015-09-30

Keywords

  • Danae,
  • glycerol,
  • leaf senescence

How to Cite

Bulgari, R., Negri, M., & Ferrante, A. (2015). Evaluation of postharvest storage and treatments in cut ruscus foliage. Advances in Horticultural Science, 29(2-3), 103–108. https://doi.org/10.13128/ahs-22687

Abstract

Danae racemosa (L.) Moench is an important cut foliage in the ornamental market. During postharvest, leaf senescence symptoms are leaf yellowing, weight loss and/or abscission of leaves. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of pre-treatments for 24 h with glycerol and Thidiazuron (TDZ) on Danae vase life before and after storage. Treatments were applied in vase water containing glycerol 0.1, 1 or 10 mM, 10 μM TDZ and a combined treatment of 10μM TDZ plus 10 mM glycerol. The effect of treatments was evaluated through the determination of vase life, chlorophyll content, chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters, sucrose and total sugars content. The cut foliages were stored in sealed plastic bags and placed in a dark room at 4°C for two months. The vase life, before and after storage, was determined in a controlled chamber set to 20°C and RH 50-60% with a light intensity of 20 μmol m-2 s-1. Results demonstrated that 10μM TDZ plus 10 mM glycerol was the most effective treatment in maintaining quality during vase life of stored and not stored cut foliage.