Comparison of vacuum and room pre-cooling methods on carnation storage

In this study, the effects of vacuum and room pre-cooling methods on vase life and flower quality of carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L. cv. 'Picasso') kept in cold storage as wet and dry were investigated. After pre-cooling, the flowers were stored as wet (distilled water) and dry for 28 days at 2°C and 90-95% relative humidity. Weight loss, vase water intake, flower petal and sepal color, flower petal diameter and total chlorophyll content were measured in carnation samples at 7-day intervals during storage. In addition, carnation flowers were removed from the cold storage on the 14th and 28th days of storage and kept for 15 days at 20°C and 65-70% relative humidity under 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness to examine their vase life. As a result of the study, it was determined that carnations stored as wet had higher proportional fresh weight, chlorophyll content and bud opening amount. Additionally, it was determined that the color values and visual scores of the wet stored carnations were higher than those in dry storage. The effects of pre-cooling methods showed that higher proportional fresh weight, water intake, chlorophyll content and visual quality score were obtained in carnation pre-cooled with vacuum. On the contrary, it was determined that these flowers showed lower opening. After 14 days of storage, the effect of storage method on the proportional fresh weight and visual quality of flowers kept at 20°C for vase life was statistically non-significant, while wet storage was found to be more effective in flowers that were taken for vase life after 28 days of storage. After 14 days of storage, the highest visual score was found in vacuum pre-cooled flowers that were taken for determination of vase life whereas room and vacuum pre-cooling methods had non-significant effects on the vase life after 28 days of storage.