CULTIVAR DIFFERENCE IN SENSITIVITY TO CHILLING INJURY OF ANTHURIUM FLOWERS (ANTHURIUM ANDRAEANUM) DURING LOW TEMPERATURE STORAGE

Anthurium is an important economic cut flower in world trade, but its storage life is limited due to chilling injury (CI) when stored at temperature lower than 12°C. Wilting of the spadix, purpling and browning of the spathe are the main symptoms of CI. The effects of low temperature on CI and flower senescence were investigated in five anthurium cultivars, namely ‘Tropical’ (red spathe), ‘Casino’ (orange spathe), ‘Cheers’ (pink spathe), ‘Angel’ (white spathe) and ‘Pistache’ (green spathe). Cut flowers were packed wet in fiberboard carton boxes and then stored at 4 and 12°C (85-90% RH). The results showed that cut flowers stored at 4°C developed CI more rapidly than those stored at 12°C. Cultivar ‘Cheers’ was the most sensitive to CI when stored at 4°C for four days and showed visible CI symptoms of dried spadix and spathe turned pink and dark brown. Moreover, increasing in electrolyte leakage, rate of respiration and weight loss percentage of the spathe, and the shortest vase life (15 days) was found. Whereas CI symptoms, electrolyte leakage, rate of respiration and weight loss were the lowest in ‘Casino’ and vase life was 28 days. Changes in membrane lipid oxidation in anthurium spathe during low temperature storage were investigated. The results showed that ‘Cheers’ showed highest electrolyte leakage, TBA-reactive compounds and lipoxygenase activity throughout the storage period at 4°C and it was accompanied by dramatical increase in CI symptoms. These data suggest that CI at 4°C is related to an increase in the membrane lipid oxidation.