The Effects of Storage Temperature on the Quality of Exported Dendrobium Cut-Flowers

The export of Dendrobium cut-flowers from Thailand to overseas markets has been done by air shipment. Air shipment is the quickest possible delivery but it includes a high air freight cost and limited cargo space. Possible alternative shipment methods to deliver Dendrobium cut-flowers to Asian markets are under-considered. Shipment by sea is a novel practice that should be considered for long-term transportation. We investigated the effect of storage temperature during the 3-day shipment of Dendrobium cut-flowers. Cut inflorescences of four Dendrobium cultivars, namely, 'Sonia 17', 'Anna', 'Sanan White' and 'Fatima' were packed wet under simulated shipment for export and stored at 10, 15 and 20 degrees C for 3 days. The storage temperature at 10 degrees C induced chilling injuries of bud abscissions in all four Dendrobium cultivars but it had no effect on open flowers. The optimal storage temperature of each cultivar was different. A temperature of 15 degrees C was optimum for 'Anna', while a temperature of 15 and 20 degrees C was optimum for 'Sonia 17', 'Khoa Sanan' and 'Fatima'. Three-day sea shipment of cut Dendrobium flowers for Asian markets may be possible with the ideal storage temperature during transportation at 15 degrees C. The customers will then have the option to use cut flowers for about 15 days.