
%0 Journal Article
%A Joyce, DC 
%T Postharvest floral organ fall in Geraldton waxflower (<I>Chamelaucium uncinatum</I> Schauer)
%J Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture
%D 1993/07/01
%V 33
%N 4
%P 481-487
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/EA9930481
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/EA9930481 
%X Possible reasons for, and prevention of, postharvest floral organ fall in Geraldton waxflower (Chamelaucium unciizatum Schauer) were studied. An 11-kg compression load, equivalent to the lidding of a carton, caused flower fall amounting to 1% of the fresh mass of 420-g bunches. Fungal development also resulted in flower abscission. Healthy flowers produced little ethylene (e.g. 0.05 ¦L/kg.h), while infected flowers produced much more (e.g. 7.71 ¦L/kg.h) and were shed. Treatment with fungicide (iprodione + mancozeb) and antiethylene compounds [e.g. silver thiosulfate (STS) pulse, Purafil sorbant] reduced flowerfall in packaged flowers. Cut sprigs which suffered severe water deficit also shed flowers. In cv. Elegance, drying to -3.61 MPa elevated ethylene production (e.g. 1.35 ¦L/kg . h). Flowerfall induced by water deficit could be reduced by pretreatment with a STS pulse (0.5 mmol Ag+/L for 15-22 h at 0¦C or 4 mmol Ag+/L for 20-30 min at about 20¦C). Pretreatment with a naphthaleneacetic acid dip (50 mg/L for 1 min at room temperature) shortened the vase life of Elegance. 
