Longevity and post-harvest quality of cut ornamental sunflower floral

Abstract

The postharvest quality and longevity of cut flowers is influenced by several factors, with the development stage being one of the determining aspects. The determination of the harvest point is variable and must be carried out depending on the physiology of flower development and the proximity of the consumer market. In this sense, the objective was to determine the harvesting point and the ideal stem length for harvesting ‘Sol Vermelho’ ornamental sunflower. The experimental design adopted was completely randomized, arranged in a 2 × 4 factorial scheme (harvest point × stem length), where stems harvested at stages R4 and R5.5 and in four lengths of 50, 60, 70, and 80 cm were used. The results demonstrate that the early harvest (R4 stage) of the ornamental sunflower flower ‘Sol Vermelho’ stems is a viable alternative that allows greater post-harvest durability and, consequently, the commercialization of the stems for a longer period of time. In addition, stems harvested at stage R5.5 (open flowers) with lengths of 50 and 60 cm can be recommended for sale in regions close to the production sites.