CALLA LILY POSTHARVEST: PULSING WITH DIFFERENT SUCROSE CONCENTRATIONS AND STORAGE CONDITIONS

Calla lily is appreciated specie used for flower arrangements. In spite of its commercial importance, there is little information on calla lily postharvest conservation. Thus, this study aimed to determine the best sucrose concentration for pulsing and cold storage conditions to extend calla lily postharvest durability. Flowers stalks were submitted to a pulsing pre-treatment using 2, 4, 8, 12 and 16% sucrose in the solution, for one hour, plus a treatment with direct storage in cold chamber (4 o C), without a prior-treatment. Dry storage or storage in solution with the commercial product Flower ® was also tested. Spathe length and width were daily measured from which the opening and wilting processes were analyzed. It was observed that pulsing with sucrose was efficient in extending calla lily inflorescences opening process and durability. Dry storage for short periods (less than six days) can also be used, but a prior-treatment with 12% sucrose pulsing for one hour or with a water supply for the same period was required. For storage in solution, was recommended a pulsing with 5 or 7.5 % sucrose. Index terms : Zantedeschia aethiopica , pulsing, durability.