Postharvest preservation is essential to maintain the peculiar features, beauty and longevity of flower stalks. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the postharvest durability, based on the visual quality and fresh weight of flower stalks of Heliconia psittacorum (with three-color variations) and of H. densiflora, in a cold chamber at three temperatures (14 ºC, 18 ºC and 22 ºC) and in the laboratory (control treatment at 26 ºC). A completely randomized design with four replications and five stems per plot was used. In flower stalks of H. densiflora under laboratory conditions, first signs of senescence were observed after six days of evaluation. For H. psittacorum, first signs of senescence were observed between 6 and 12 days of evaluation. For flower stalks of H. psittacorum (inflorescence color 5R 4/10), storage at 14 °C is recommended for up to nine days. At 14 ºC or 22 ºC, H. psittacorum (inflorescence color 2.5Y 7/10) at 18 ºC or 22 ºC for up to six days, and H. psittacorum (inflorescence of 7.7 YR 7/10) at 14 ºC or 22 ºC for up to six days. For H. densiflora, storage at 18 °C is recommended for up to six days. For both species and bract color variations, the reductions of fresh weight were greatest in the refrigerated environments.

Flower stems of the Heliconiaceae family are gaining more and more space in the Brazilian market of ornamental plants and further knowledge about quality, productivity, and postharvest management is necessary. The objective of the present study was to evaluate heliconiaceae cultivated in full sun in the central-west region of Brazil in terms of agronomic traits and to determine the postharvest durability of floral stems submitted to cold storage. Accessions of Heliconia bihai cultivar Caribea, H. bihai cultivar Iris Red, and H. rauliniana were evaluated. Quantitative and qualitative morphological characteristics, the total number of flower stems produced, and number of marketable stems were obtained.Postharvest longevity was tested in a cold chamber at 16 ºC and 19 ºC and at ambient temperature of 26 ºC. Morphological characteristics such as the length, diameter and fresh mass of flower stems, inflorescence length, and postharvest durability of the inflorescences were the most affected. The most important variables were the quality of flower stems, productivity of marketable stems, and postharvest durability. The studied heliconias presented agronomic characters within the commercialization standards, highlighting H. bihai (Caribea) which presented the highest productivity. The best storage temperature for all accessions evaluated was 16 °C.

Aims: To characterize the development, yield, and morphological characteristics of the ‘Red torch’ and ‘Pink torch’ cultivars of torch ginger cultivated in the Brazilian Cerrado. Study design:  The experiment was performed using two cultivars (‘Red torch’ and ‘Pink torch’) with three replications of three ginger torch clumps per plot. Place and Duration of Study: Germplasm Active Bank of Ornamental Tropical Plants of the State University of Mato Grosso (14°08′38′′S, 57°03′45′′W; altitude of 488 m), Brazil, from August 2015 to July 2018. Methodology: At monthly intervals during the first 10 months after planting, we assessed clump development, based on the measurement of the area occupied by the clump, and number of tillers emerging from the clump. The monthly yield per hectare was estimated from August 2016 to July 2018. During this period, the average number of floral stems produced per clump was determined, and the floral stems were characterized during the second year, for stem length, stem diameter, inflorescence length, inflorescence diameter, and fresh stem mass. Evaluations were based on the measurements obtained from 10 stems per clump. Results: First-year clump expansion rates for 'Red torch' and 'Pink torch' were 4.00 and 7.90 cm2, respectively. 'Pink torch' presented a higher monthly average of tiller emergence than 'Red torch', and consequently higher productivity. The cultivars produced floral stems of commercial standard in the second year of growth, with stem lengths and diameters greater than 60.00 cm and 10.00 mm, respectively. In this study, we found that ‘Red torch’ and ‘Pink torch’ showed high yields and produce inflorescences with characteristics suitable for commercialization. Conclusion: The basis of this study, we can conclude that cultivation of torch ginger in the Brazilian Cerrado would be viable.

Alpinia spp. play an important ecological role as a source of nectar in the understory of tropical and subtropical forests, where many of these species are common. The perennial species Alpinia purpurata (Vieill.) K. Schum. is native to the tropical rainforests of Asia and has been used as an ornamental cut plant due to its lush inflorescences and post-harvest durability. The internal and external morphology, floral biology, and reproductive system of four A. purpurata cultivars were investigated in order to contribute to studies of genetic improvement of the species. The inflorescence of A. purpurata is terminal, globose, and has flowers protected by colorful and showy bracts. The white flowers are tubular bisexual. The floral anthesis of the four cultivars lasted 9 to 12 h and pollen viability was above 80% throughout the pre-flowering period in all cultivars evaluated. During anthesis, stigma and anther crest were receptive due to the presence of stigmatic fluid. Fruiting of the cultivars was observed after hand cross-pollination, whereas no fruiting was recorded in treatments involving spontaneous self-pollination, hand self-pollination or geitonogamy. Natural pollination induced low fruiting, suggesting low pollinator availability in the studied area. The obligatory xenogamy of A. purpurata is a facilitator for the development of new hybrids for the ornamental plant market.

The characterization and morphological evaluation of plants are essential steps towards the germplasm classification and use in breeding. The objective of this study was to improve the morphological characterization of four Alpinia purpurata cultivars by means of qualitative evaluations to identify genotypes with promising traits for the ornamental plant market. Four cultivars of A. purpurata (‘Jungle King’, ‘Kimi’, ‘Red Ginger’ and ‘Pink Ginger’) were assessed in a partially shaded cultivation system. Quantitative morphological descriptors such as stem length and diameter, number of leaves on floral stem, leaf width and length, inflorescence width and length, fresh weight of floral stem and the number of produced and marketable stems were evaluated. The qualitative descriptors were evaluated on inflorescence, floral stem, petiole, leaf and bracts. Postharvest longevity was tested in a cold chamber (at 16 and 19°C) and at ambient temperature (26°C). The most outstanding quantitative traits of the cultivars ‘Jungle King’, ‘Kimi’ and ‘Pink Ginger’ were stem length and diameter, fresh weight, floral stem durability, inflorescence length and width and productivity. Cultivar ‘Red Ginger’ was less outstanding in the quantitative traits mentioned for the other cultivars. Variation among the cultivars was observed for inflorescence shape and color. The cultivars ‘Kimi’ and ‘Pink Ginger’ produced a stem yield of 6,654.32 and 7,580.24 ha-1 year-1, respectively, and cultivars ‘Red Ginger’ and ‘Jungle King’ 6,012.34 and 4,037.03 ha-1 year-1, respectively. The postharvest durability of the four cultivars evaluated under refrigeration exceeded 15 days and that of the control was less than 8 days. The qualitative and quantitative traits of the cultivars ‘Jungle King’, ‘Kimi’ and ‘Pink Ginger’ were promising for the tropical ornamental plant market.