Effects of postharvest water deficit on quality and vase life of cut Dendrobium flowers

Abstract

Dendrobium orchids are popular cut flowers in Thailand and are the most important cut flower for exports. However, most cut Dendrobium flowers are harvested and kept dry for a few hours until either packed in water tube for export or transportation without placing in water to local market. This can cause water stress of the flowers and induce early senescence of the florets. This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of postharvest water deficit on quality and vase life of cut Dendrobium ‘Suree Peach’, ‘Supinya’ and ‘Eia Sakul’ flowers. Cut Dendrobium flowers were kept dry 0, 12, 24 and 48 hours after harvest and then placed in water. The results showed that water deficit affected quality and vase life of postharvest cut Dendrobium flowers of all cultivars tested by increasing flower bud opening and florets abscission and decreasing open flower quality scores. However, water deficit had only a small effect on petal color changes of the florets. Nevertheless, the longest vase life and the best flower quality of the florets in all cultivars were found in the inflorescences which were exposed to water deficit for 12 hours when compared with the inflorescences that were exposed to water deficit for 24 and 48 hours. Therefore, keeping the inflorescences dry if needed after harvest up to 12 hours before packing in water tube for transport or export to local market could be considered as one way to maintain quality and vase life of cut Dendrobium ‘Suree Peach’, ‘Supinya’ and ‘Eia Sakul’ flowers.