Storage Conditions Influence Plant Quality and Long-Term Viability of Ranunculus Asiaticus Dried Tuberous Roots

Ranunculus asiaticus is a desiccation tolerant flowering plant produced commercially by its dried tuberous roots.  Low vigor and reduced “tuber” viability are common problems when these roots are stored for extended periods.  We investigated “germination” and plant quality following storage under both short-term, and simulated long-term storage conditions and found an interaction between high temperature and humidity to be most detrimental.  Tubers stored at 85% relative humidity were almost completely killed when held for 16 weeks at 25 C, while those stored under the same conditions at 5 C faired much better.  Plant quality was shown to improve as storage humidity decreased.