2018 ASHS Annual Conference

We investigated the effects of dehydration duration on water uptake and postharvest quality of cut lilies. Stems of ‘Nashville’, ‘Santander’, and ‘Sorbonne’ were subjected to 0, 8, 24, or 48 h dehydration (at 20 ^oC) then put into test tubes containing 2% sucrose and biocide. Water uptake in the first 24 h of rehydration was significantly higher in dehydrated stems compared to controls . In ‘Nashville’, water uptake in the first 24 h of rehydration was similar for stems given 8, 24, and 48 h dehydration, ca. 33 ml to 34 ml, versus 27.7 ml in controls. Unlike ‘Nashville’, ‘Santander’ had dehydrated for 48h had 12.7 ml more uptake than controls, and ‘Sorbonne’ given 24 h dehydration had 9.9 ml more water uptake than the controls. While dehydration treatment increased water uptake in the first day after rehydration, the total uptake over a 9-10 day period was significantly less than in non-dehydrated controls. In ‘Nashville’, total water uptake was 117.1 ml in controls versus 85.5 ml in the 48 h dehydration treatment. In ‘Sorbonne’, total uptake was 60.3 ml more in controls versus the 48 h dehydration treatment. Although dehydration duration affected water uptake, individual flower life and vase life were not obviously different between dehydration treatments and controls. However, opened flowers of 24 and 48 h dehydrated ‘Sorbonne’ were smaller than controls and the 8 h dehydration treatment. In some cases, dehydration accelerated leaf yellowing. ‘Nashville’ stems dehydrated for 24 h showed visible leaf yellowing 3 days earlier than controls and ‘Sorbonne’ dehydrated 48 h showed leaf yellowing 2.4 days earlier. Cut lilies apparently have an ability to substantially recover from significant dehydration and restore uptake water, but dehydration reduces total water uptake and reduces postharvest performance.