Effect of plant extracts on postharvest conservation of cut flowers
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Keywords
Vase life, natural preservatives, floral senescence, flower quality
Resumen
Objective: To evaluate the effect of plant extracts on the postharvest preservation of cut flowers.
Methodology: Seven extraction methods were employed to obtain active compounds from fresh and dry plant material, using Azadirachta indica as a reference and rose as the model flower. With the extraction method defined, five plants with medicinal and antimicrobial properties (Azadirachta indica, Piper auritum, Equisetum arvense, Hamelia patens, and Solanum nigrum) were evaluated on five cut flowers species (rose, gerbera, carnation, gladiolus, and chrysanthemum) at three concentrations (25, 50, and 75 ppm), alongside a standard (Floralife®) and control. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial arrangement with three replications.
Results: Significant differences were observed (Tukey P ≤ 0.05) among flower types, plant extracts, and concentrations, indicating a significant delay in floral senescence.
Limitations on study: Further studies are required to validate these findings, particularly regarding the metabolites present in the evaluated extracts.
Conclusions: Plant extracts are proposed as an effective and natural strategy to enhance cut flower preservation.