The use of calcium chloride promoted the maintenance of the quality of Alstroemerias for up to 12 days

Cut flowers have low quality maintenance, requiring postharvest technologies to increase the floral longevity. The application of calcium maintenance solutions has been used to extend the postharvest with good results. The aim of this study was to verify the postharvest of Alstroemeria inflorescences, using calcium chloride solution maintenance. Stems with 70 cm high, were placed in a 1L Erlenmeyer bottle containing 500 mL of calcium chloride solutions at concentrations of 0, 10, 25, 50, and 100 mmol of calcium L-1. We used 3 replications, each containing four stems being evaluated every three days (0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 days). The flowers were stored at ambient temperature (22 ? 1 ? C and 80 ? 3% RH). Were evaluated the calcium and reducing sugar content, the fresh weight, the relative water content and respiration rate. The results were submitted to analysis of variance and treatment effect, when significant, submitted to Test F. The treatment with 100 mmol L-1of calcium achieved the highest calcium accumulation in the stems. Flowers treated with 50 mmol of calcium L-1 showed a lower water loss and water relatively high content, an increase of soluble carbohydrates and decreased for reducing the storage period. Treatments with 50 and 100 mmol L-1 calcium obtained lower respiratory rates. The use of calcium chloride promoted the maintenance of the quality of Alstroemerias for up to 12 days. ? Original title, list of authors, and sourcesUSE OF CALCIUM CHLORIDE ON POSTHARVEST FLOWER ALSTROEMERIASGalati, VC1,Marques, KM1, Muniz, ACC1, Silva,JP1,Guimar?es, JER1,Mattiuz,CFM2,Mattiuz,BH1vanessagalati@bol.com.br1Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Faculdade de Ci?ncias Agr?rias e Veterin?rias (FCAV), Departamento de Tecnologia, Jaboticabal, S?o Paulo, Brazil2Centro Universit?rio Moura Lacerda, Ribeir?o Preto, S?o Paulo, Brazil IHC 2014, International Horticulture Congress, 17-22 August 2014, Brisbane, http://www.ihc2014.org/ The picture is by www.flowerpetal.com ? Key words Flores?????????????????? flowersblomme?????????????? ????????????????? ?????????????????????????? fleur????? ??????????????????? ?????????????????????????? fiore????? ??????????????? ?????????????? ???????????????????? ?i?ek????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????