LOW-TEMPERATURE STORAGE EFFECTS ON SUGAR CONTENT, RESPIRATION AND QUALITY OF ANTHURIUM FLOWERS

Sugar content, respiration rate, and spathe quality of flowers of anthurium (Anthurium andraenum Andre) were determined after storage at chilling temperatures. The content of reducing sugars (glucose + fructose) in the spathe generally decreased during storage with rapid decreases usually corresponding with sudden increases in respiration rate. Storage at a chilling temperature of 4-degrees-C tended to slow the loss of reducing sugars; this was probably due to slower respiration. The rate of spathe discoloration (blueing) was not directly related to the content of reducing sugars. Although blueing did not develop during short term storage at 4-degrees-C, exposure of flowers to 4-degrees-C for more than three days accelerated spathe discoloration after removal to 20-degrees-C. Pulsing with 2.5% dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) before storage at 4-degrees-C or 14-degrees-C for 15 days failed to delay spathe blueing significantly.