Vase Life of Cut Torch Ginger (Etlingera elatior) Inflorescences as Influenced by Stem Length

Abstract

Effective postharvest handling techniques increase the vase life of tropical cut flowers and reduce flower loss. The effects of different stem lengths (35, 50, and 65 cm) soaked in distilled water or 200 mg L -1 6-benzyladenine (BA) for 30 min on the visual quality, glossiness, days to additional browning of the bract, water uptake, vase life, and color (L* - lightness, a* - red/green coordinate, b* - yellow/blue coordinate) of 75% mature cut torch ginger inflorescences were assessed. Results showed that water uptake decreased by the end of vase life at four to five days as did weight and a*. Regardless of stem length and BA, inflorescences exhibited gloss loss, reduction in L* b*, and increased bract browning resulting in less acceptable visual quality. At four days after treatment, samples with longer stem lengths (50 and 65 cm) showed slower gloss loss and higher water uptake than the short stemmed (35 cm) inflorescences. Under ambient conditions (26.81±0.31 °C and 71.47±4.64% RH), cut torch gingers with longer stems (65 cm) showed a vase life that was better than the control inflorescences by 18.7%. BA did not influence the postharvest quality and vase life of the inflorescences.