Controlled atmosphere and refrigerated storage in cut roses ‘Avalanche’

Abstract

In Brazil, there are few studies on cut flowers cold storage, and there is no research on the association of controlled atmosphere with flower cooling. Worldwide research in this sector is considered scarce; this requires the establishment of adequate postharvest technology, involving cold storage and controlled/modified atmosphere for cutting flowers. In Brazil, roses are the most widely cultivated cut flower and a single producer exports three pallets of this species by airfreight per week. The objectives of this work were to define the concentrations of O 2 and CO 2 in which cut roses 'Avalanche' should be submitted, defining procedures for postharvest conservation and establishing technical guidelines for the exportation of cut roses under controlled atmosphere. The experiments were carried out at 1±1 °C with the help of a flowchart to dose the gases, and the concentration of O 2 , CO 2 and ethylene were assessed. Phase 1 experiment had O 2 concentration set at 21% associated with four different concentrations of CO 2 , 10, 20, 30 and 40%. Phase 2 experiment had O 2 at 3% associated with four different concentrations of CO 2 , 3, 6, 10 and 15%. The controlled atmosphere with 3% O 2 and 6% CO 2 associated with 1+1 °C was indicated for the storage of cut rose 'Avalanche'. Keywords: carbon dioxide, oxygen, postharvest, flowboard. RESUMO Atmosfera modificada em armazenamento refrigerado de hastes de rosas 'Avalanche'No Brasil, existem poucos estudos com armazenamento refrigerado e flores de corte, tal como refrigeração associada à atmosfera modificada para flores. Em nível mundial, as pesquisas neste setor são consideradas incipientes; portanto, o estabelecimento de tecnologia de pós-colheita adequada de armazenamento sob refrigeração e atmosfera modificada controlada para flores de corte se faz necessário. No Brasil a rosa é a flor de corte mais cultivada pelos produtores, de forma que apenas um único produtor desta flor exporta até 3 paletes aéreos por semana. Assim, com a hipótese de que a rosa, após o corte, armazenada em ambiente refrigerado e com atmosfera modificada controlada deverá ter sua vida útil ampliada. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram: definir as concentrações de gases nas quais as rosas seriam submetidas em atmosfera controlada; definir procedimentos de pós-colheita para conservação de rosas em combinação com sistema de atmosfera controlada e estabelecer procedimentos técnicos para exportação de rosas sob atmosfera controlada. As análises foram realizadas à temperatura ambiente de 1±1 °C, e as concentrações de O 2 e CO 2 e a produção de etileno foram mensuradas. As rosas foram mantidas em armazenamento refrigerado e atmosfera controlada na temperatura de 1±1 °C. Primeiramente, a concentração de O 2 foi fixada em 21% e quatro concentrações diferentes de CO 2 , 10, 20, 30 e 40% foram testadas. No segundo experimento, a concentração de O 2 foi fixada em 3% e quatro diferentes concentrações de CO 2 , 3, 6, 10 e 15% foram testadas. As flores foram colocadas em frascos de acrílico com de 20 c...

Genotypes and Storage Duration Effects on the Quality of Cut Flower – Gerbera (Gerbera Jamesonii Hook)

“…Past findings also revealed that applying 3% CA with O 2 and 6% CO 2 at 1 °C gave significant quality maintenance for 14 and 21 days, which were suitable for rose cut flowers (Dias et al, 2017). A dry, cold storage may be beneficial to keep Lilium inflorescences for a longer period.…”

An analysis of conventional and modern packaging approaches for cut flowers: a review article

“… Dias et al. (2017) demonstrated that CA containing 3% O 2 and 6% CO 2 at 1°C maintained a significant quality for storage periods between 14 and 21 days.…”

“…A package constitutes a significant influence over consumers’ perceptions and enhances their purchase. Inadequate harvesting, handling, and storage can cause significant losses in the plant’s production investment ( Belay et al., 2016 ; Dias et al., 2017 ).…”

Postharvest: biology, physiology, and technology

“…the pre-harvest step has a key role in establishing the initial quality of the product, as per the recommended production practices were followed. Novel technologies, such as neural networks, control the environment of the greenhouse and commence being implemented to determine the optimal harvest timing with indirect measures (Dias, 2017). Moreover, the use of nanotechnology and even genetic engineering through gene silencing controlled by viral vectors are a reality (El-Serafy, 2019).…”

“…Worldwide, it has been observed a trend in combining both refrigeration and modified atmosphere. Both these techniques can be installed in a cold chamber, in a container-truck (largely utilized in Europe) and in ship containers, the latter emerge as an alternative to aerial transportation with a much lower carbon footprint, thus emitting less greenhouse gases (GHG) (Dias et al, 2017).…”