COMPARACION DE LOS EFECTOS DE PRESERVANTES EN POSTCOSECHA DE LISIANTHUS (Eustroma grandiflorum L.)

Abstract

Lisianthus is a crop that has been acquiring importance as a cut flower in Central Southern Chile. However, a number of preservation problems, related to its distribution in the local market, have been identified. The present study had the aim of increasing its preservation time as a cut flower, through the use of chemical preservatives, such as: Sucrose, sodium hypoclorite and organic preservatives such as Ethylene control which works as an ethylene absorbent. A pure water control was also included. A total of five variables were measured: Geotropism and stem curvature, petal and foliage colour loss, petal and floral bud abscission, pedicel stability or firmness and open flower weight variation. The complete random design was analysed using the Kruskal Wallis test and average means separation, using multiple separations. The use of Ethylene control was found to reduce the deterioration effects on cut flowers more effectively than sucrose and sodium hipoclorine application and water alone. After 15 days of storage at 4 º C and 85 % relative humidity, no significant difference was observed among the 3 treatments and the 5 quality parameters measured. The treatment using Ethylene control (T₂) was more effective in reducing the Botrytis cinerea incidence and cold provoked damage than treatments T₀ with pure water and T₁ with sodium hypoclorite.