Salicylic Acid and Cold Storage in the Post-Harvest of Bird-of-Paradise

The irregular opening of the florets and susceptibility to chilling damages are the major issues of cut
Bird-of-Paradise flowers (Strelitzia reginae). The salicylic acid (SA) has shown to be a promising
action in reducing chilling injury in many crops; however, its effect is not well elucidated in cut flowers.
The objective of this study was to determine the action of SA on the development of reduction of
hilling injury during storage of Bird-of-Paradise flowers. The stems were pulsed with 200 g L-1 of
sucrose in added with three concentrations of SA (2, 4 and 6 mmol L-1) and control with only 200 g L-1
of sucrose for 24 hours. Subsequently, the stems were transferred to containers with water and
conditioned at 5°C for chilling injury induction for 28 days. Water uptake rate, transpiration rate, fresh
mass, electrolyte leakage, activity of peroxidase and phenolic compounds of bracts and sepals were
determined weekly. The SA reduces the transpiration rate and keeps the mass fresh until 21 days. A
reduction was observed in electrolyte leakage up to 14 days. All doses of SA increased POD activity
of the bracts while water uptake rate, POD activity of the sepals and phenolic compound content of
bracts and sepals are dependent on dose and storage period. It is concluded that the SA applied via
pulsing reduces the chilling injury on Bird-of-Paradise cut flowers. In addition, it reduces the
transpiration rate and maintains the fresh mass of the floral stems until 21 days. No correlation was
found between POD activity and phenolic compounds.