Long-term storage of carnations cut at the green-bud stage

• Published in: Scientia horticulturae Vol. 17; no. 3; pp. 289 - 297
• Main Authors: Goszczyńska, D., Rudnicki, R.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.01.1982
• ISSN: 0304-4238; 1879-1018
• DOI: 10.1016/0304-4238(82)90052-8

Carnation ( Dianthus caryophyllus L.) cultivar ‘Scania 3C’ flowers were cut, either as tight buds or when coloured petals had begun to be visible as a “red cross”, and treated with various chemical solutions prior to storage for 14, 16, 20 or 24 weeks at 0–1°C. Pre-conditioning in a solution containing silver thiosulphate (STS) 550 mg/l and sucrose (S) 100 g/l improved the quality of flowers opened after 14 weeks of storage; flower diameters and vase-life were similar to those of fresh, non-stored flowers. Carnation buds were also successfully stored for up to 16 weeks when pre-conditioned with STS and sucrose, but the vase-life of opened flowers was shorter than that of freshly cut buds. The use of this preservative in conditioning, combined with dip treatment in a 0.1% solution of the potent fungicides Rovral or Sumilex before storage, improved the quality of flowers after 16–24 weeks of storage and allowed a vase-life of 7–8 days, respectively. Storage of carnation buds for 20 weeks at low pressure conditions (LPS) considerably improved the quality of flowers compared with 20 weeks of a standard air-storage technique. Carnation buds stored under LPS conditions all developed into fully opened flowers, irrespective of pre-conditioning, although acceptable quality and vase-life were only achieved by those which were pre-conditioned with STS+S prior to storage.