The conservation of the cut flower stems aims to prolong durability, maintain the quality and reduce the losses after harvest, providing a greater period of lifespan and commercialization. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the quality and durability in post-harvest of fresh safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) flower stems harvested in different times and submitted to different preservative solutions. The experiment was conducted in entirely randomized design and, organized in 4x8 (four preservative solutions and eight harvest seasons) factorial scheme, with four repetitions, and each experimental unit consisting of five floral stems. The cultivation of floral stems of safflower occurred at Floriculture Sector and the harvest seasons of them were carried out in the beginning of flowering from the sowing performed in the first seasonal half: in winter, spring and summer of 2016, autumn, winter, spring and summer of 2017 and autumn of 2018. And, the preservative solutions were: distilled water (control); distilled water + sucrose 2%; distilled water + sodium hypochlorite 2% and distilled water + sucrose 2% + sodium hypochlorite 2%. The floral stems were evaluated in relation to quality notes, dehydration and absorption of preservative solutions. We observed that the floral stems of safflower presented shelf life in average of nine days, with absorption of solution in average of 0.021 mL day-1 g-1 of fresh mass and that the use of preservatives was not beneficial to conservation in post-harvest.

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Existe una preocupación por la caracterización química de los alimentos con potencial económico y nutricional, en especial los de bajo valor calórico, en su constitución de proteínas, lípidos, carbohidratos, minerales y vitaminas, para una alimentación sana. Entre esos alimentos, las flores comestibles se destacan por su belleza y condimentación en los platos; además, poseen propiedades nutricionales y medicinales. En este contexto, el objetivo del trabajo fue caracterizar químicamente los pétalos de las especies de rosa (Rosa x grandiflora Hort.), girasol (Helianthus annuus L.) y caléndula (Calendula officinalis L.), para el uso en la alimentación humana. Las plantas fueron cultivadas en ambiente protegido y cielo abierto, y después de la cosecha se realizaron los análisis físico-químicos (carbohidratos, cenizas, extracto etéreo, humedad, fibra y proteína). En el presente estudio se observó un alto contenido de agua (> 80 %); el girasol tuvo mayor contenido de cenizas (1,2 %); la caléndula tuvo mayor contenido de extracto etéreo (1,2 %), y la rosa tuvo mayor contenido de fibra (3,2 %). Los pétalos de las flores de caléndula, girasol y rosa presentaron una composición química con nutrientes esenciales, pudiendo ser incluidos en los menús diarios por contener nutrientes esenciales para una dieta sana.

This work evaluated the effect of aqueous plant extracts from chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelev), cinnamon (Melia azedarach L.) and clove (Syzygium aromaticum L.) in the physiological and sanitary quality of germinating Chenopodium quinoa Willd (quinoa) seeds, as an alternative to seed treatment. The experiment was carried out under laboratory conditions in the year 2018. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 2×10 factorial scheme (two lots of quinoa seeds × ten doses of concentrated plant extracts), with four replicates each. The quinoa seeds were exposed to the plant extracts separately for ten minutes by submersion at the concentrations of 0, 1, 5 and 10%. The variables evaluated were germination, first germination count, field emergence, germination and emergence speed index, seedling length and sanity. The aqueous plant extracts of Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelev, Melia azadarach L. and Syzygium aromaticum L. used in the quinoa seed treatment raised the emergence speed and the fungi control of these seeds within the variations and situations of each batch. The D. grandiflora extract, in all concentrations used, improved seed germination index, obtaining the highest rate of 70% in seeds treated with 5% concentration compared to the control treatment, which obtained 59%. M. azedarach (10% concentration) is the best treatment for emergence speed improvement, while S. aromaticum (10% concentration) provides the highest control of pathogens: 28% in relation to the control treatment that obtained 75%. These results highlighted the viability of the use of these species with low toxicity to man and the environment as treatment of quinoa seeds.

The objectives of this work were to evaluate the method of thermotherapy via dry heat for the treatment of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seeds and, to verify its effect on the physiological and sanitary quality of seeds. The experiment was conducted in entirely randomized design, arranged in 5x6+1 factorial scheme, with six levels of temperature: 35, 45, 55, 65, 75 and 85 ºC and with five time periods: 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h, plus the additional treatment (control), with eight repetitions. The seeds were packaged in Kraft paper bags and submitted to the forced circulation greenhouse according to the factorial mentioned above. We evaluated the physiological and sanitary qualities by the standard tests of germination, length and mass of seedlings, emergence at field and sanity. We observed that the thermotherapy can be used as treatment of safflower seeds, and it is efficient in the control of phytopathogens, without damage to the physiological quality up to 45 ºC, and the combination of 45 ºC 24 h-1 provided better phytosanitary quality for these seeds, increasing their germinative potential and emergence at field.