Advances In Postharvest Handling of Cut Flowers

Today floriculture is recognized as a profitable industry since it has higher potential per unit area than most of the field crops. Postharvest of cut flowers has been engaging the attention of growers and researchers for manyyears.Understanding the variable postharvest performance of cut flowers is important not only for ensuring maximum life of thosethatpresently are of commercial importance, but also for developing new selections with improved postharvest quality.There are many factors affecting vase life of cut flowers such as temperature, ethylene, humidity, light, maturity stage of cut flower, cleanliness of the vase solution etc.As flowers are viable and actively metabolize plant parts, they are subjected to ageing processes.In the ageing process, ethylene is found to be the main quality-affecting factor on freshness of fruits and the vase life of cut flowers. To overcome senescence of flowers people use many postharvest practices.There is great need for pre-treatments to be performed at thegrower level with different anti-fungal and ethylene inhibitor products to guarantee maximal flower quality and extended vase life for the satisfaction of the consumer.