Extending Cut Paeonia Lactiflora Pall. Storage Duration Using Sub-Zero Storage Temperatures

Abstract

Cut peonies (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.) have a relatively short vase life and limited availability due to seasonal production. Cultivars Festiva Maxima (FM), Monsieur Jules Elie (MJE), and Sarah Bernhardt (SB) stored at 0.7 °C had a longer flower open time at 12 weeks of storage compared to those held at −3.1 or 3.5 °C, while the flower bud time was unaffected. The flower open time of FM and MJE was no different for stems stored at a sub-zero temperature of −0.6 °C for 16 weeks compared to non-stored stems. Flower quality, opening, and lack of deformity was reduced at 16 weeks of storage in comparison to non-stored flowers, but higher for stems stored at −0.6 °C compared to 0.7 °C. Pre-treating stems before storage with pulses of a commercial hydrator solution or a 200 g·L−1 sucrose solution for 2 h at 4 °C had little commercial significance compared to non-pulsed control stems. The total phenolic content, malondialdehyde, and superoxide dismutase were not effective indicators of open time or quality loss. This study is the first to demonstrate the successful use of a non-freezing, sub-zero storage temperature for peony, and the first to store cut peonies for 16 weeks, despite an increased risk of reduced flower quality.

Cut peony industry: the first 30 years of research and new horizons

“…Dry storage is generally used for long-term storage of peony cut flowers. The longest storage life is obtained at 0°C [ 34 ], while sub-zero storage temperatures keep cut peonies fresh for 16 weeks [ 35 ]. Dry storage for the long term accelerates starch and sucrose hydrolysis, reduces the respiration rates and expands the life of cut flowers [ 36 ].…”

Postharvest Physiology of Ornamentals: Processes and Their Regulation

“…Senescence processes after harvest were investigated in cut flowers of Lilum [1], Peony [2][3][4], Lisianthus [5], and Mokara orchids [6], as well as in cut foliage of Polygonatum multiflorum 'Variegatum' [7]. Several authors studied the effects of various PGRs such as salicylic acid, gibberellin (GA 3 ) [1], ethylene [6] or 5-Aminolevulinic Acid (ALA) [7] on different senescence parameters in cut flowers of Lilium, Mokara orchid and cut foliage of Polygonatum multiflorum.…”

“…Several papers dealt with cut flowers of Peony [2][3][4], which are considered to be at the top of the list of the 20 most important cut flowers; however, their use is somewhat limited, as cut peonies are usually available only in local markets and for a short harvest time of 3-4 weeks. Therefore, their preservation for a longer time is very important.…”

“…Therefore, their preservation for a longer time is very important. Treatments for the prolonged cold storage of cut Peony flowers were assessed [2,3], and it was determined that these treatments allowed them to be in storage for 16 weeks at −6 • C [3]. All these treatments successfully improved the keeping quality of these important cut flowers after transport.…”