Postharvest Evaluation of Cut Dahlia, Linaria, Lupine, Poppy, Rudbeckia, Trachelium, and Zinnia

Vase life of 'Karma Thalia' dahlia (Dahlia xhybrida), 'Lace Violet' linaria (Linaria maroccana), 'Sunrise' lupine (Lupinus hartwegii ssp. cruickshankii), 'Temptress' poppy (Papaver nudicaule), 'Indian Summer' rudbeckia (Rudbeckia xhybrida), 'Jemmy Royal Purple' trachelium (Trachelium caeruleum), and 'Benary's Giant Scarlet' and 'Sun Gold' zinnias (Zinnia elegans) was determined after being subjected to postharvest handling procedures. Cut dahlia, lupine, poppy, rudbeckia, trachelium, and 'Sun Gold' and 'Benary's Giant Scarlet' zinnia flowers could be held in unamended tap or deionized (DI) water with no effect on vase life. Vase life of linaria was longest when placed in DI water with 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate and a solution pH of 3.5. A vase solution of 2% sucrose without foam extended consumer vase lives for linaria, trachelium, and 'Benary's Giant Scarlet' zinnia. Floral foam or 2% or 4% sucrose had no effect on the consumer vase life of dahlia, lupine, rudbeckia, and poppy. Trachelium and rudbeckia did not tolerate a 20% sucrose treatment for 24 h, whereas linaria and 'Benary's Giant Scarlet' zinnia had a longer vase life with a 10% sucrose pulse than a water-only pulse. For trachelium, the longest (17.5 days) consumer vase life occurred when the Chrysal Professional 2 Processing solution (CP2) was used after pretreatment with DI water. Either of two commercial holding solutions, CP2 or Floralife Professional (FLP), similarly extended the vase life of linaria. The use of FLP or CP2 improved consumer vase life of dahlia, lupine, and poppy compared with DI water. Dahlia, trachelium, and zinnia flowers could not be cold stored at 2 degrees C. Lupine and poppy could be stored at 2 C wet or dry for 2 weeks. Linaria and rudbeckia could be cold stored for 3 weeks. Lupine and trachelium were susceptible to 1 mu L.L-1 exogenous ethylene, which induced floret abscission in lupine and stopped floret opening in trachelium. 1-Methylcyclopropene and silver thiosulfate similarly suppressed the ethylene effect. Cut linaria, zinnia, dahlia, rudbeckia, and poppy flowers were unaffected by exogenous ethylene.