Flower senescence is triggered by physiological changes including degradation of starch and chlorophyll, increase in respiration and ethylene production. Pulsing of cut flowers with STS is one efficient way to inhibit ethylene action and production. To evaluate the effects of STS combined or not with sucrose on flower longevity and quality, lily inflorescences cv. Ace were pulsed with 5% sucrose for 12 hours, 1mM STS for 15 minutes, STS + sucrose and control (distilled water) in inflorescences harvested with three bud flowers at different ages. They were evaluated at length and opening of the buds, relative water content, content of chlorophyll and longevity. The longevity of lilly flowers variety Ace is influenced by the stage of harvest, with longer longevity for the younger stage, A. Inflorescences harvested at stage A and pulsed with STS had bigger diameter, but the treatment reduced the bud opening and flower quality. The sucrose improved the opening of buds harvested at stage A and increased the flower vase life. Thus the use of sucrose at 5% allowed harvesting the inflorescences at earlier stage, increasing the flower vase life.
Lilium longiflorum; postharvest; cut flower
