Quality loss in packed rose flowers due to Botrytis cinerea infection as related to temperature regimes and packaging design
R. G. M. van der Sman, R. G. Evelo, E. C. Wilkinson and W. G. van Doorn
Postharvest Biology and Technology Vol: 7 Issue: 4 Pages: 341-350.
1996
บทคัดย่อ
The effects of package design and temperature treatment (cooling and rewarming) on the quality of rose flowers (cv. Sweet Promise) packed in five types of boxes were investigated, with special regard to fungus (Botrytis cinerea) infection. A significant increase of B. cinerea spotting was observed on flowers which had experienced both cooling and slow rewarming in the box. The infection rate of rewarmed flowers ranged from 42 up to 95%, whereas the infection rate of untreated flowers was 30%. The flowers, which were taken out of the box directly after the cooling period and immediately placed in vases, in most cases had the same level of spotting as the untreated flowers.
A significant effect of package design (size and location of ventilation holes) on the proportion of flowers with spotting was found. Boxes with large ventilation holes and effective air ventilation around the buds improved the dispersion of the condensed water on the packed flowers and thus lowered the chance of germination of spores. This resulted in 42% infected flowers, whereas a commercially used box resulted in 62% infected flowers, which is significantly different from the infection shown by the untreated flowers. These results indicate that package design can be used as a practical tool for controlling fungus infection.