Necrosis of Bromeliads During Storage and Shipping

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R. T. Poole, R. W. Henley and C. A. Conover*

University of Florida, IFAS
Central Florida Research and Education Center-Apopka
2807 Binion Road, Apopka, FL 32703-8504
CFREC-Apopka Research Report, RH-90-21

Florida foliage plant growers currently produce many diverse genera from the Bromeliaceae family for sale to national and, to a lesser extent, international markets. When plants are sold nationally, shipping and storage time is usually limited to 3-7 days, but when sending products overseas, shipping and storage time can take 2 to 4 weeks. Many central Florida bromeliad producers are finding necrotic spots on the foliage which develop a few hours after packaging and shipping. These necrotic areas most often occur at the bend or arch in the leaf blade, where leaf structure is most stressed; but damage can develop to a lesser degree over the entire leaf. The following research examines the effects of storage temperature and duration on foliage deterioration of two widely produced species of bromeliads.

This experiment was initiated on 2 October 1989, when salable, necrosis free plants of Aechmea fasciata (silver vase) and Noregelia carolinae 'Tricolor' (tricolor blushing bromeliad) growing in 6 and 5-inch pots respectively, were obtained from commercial growers. Plants were stored in coolers maintained at 50, 59 or 68°F for 1, 2, 3 or 4 weeks. Plant grades were determined 30 November 1989 using a scale of 1-5 with 1 = excellent quality plant material with no necrosis, 3 = some necrosis but still salable and 5 = severe necrosis, unsalable plant material.

Although all plants tested were still in salable condition when this experiment concluded, storage temperature and duration had a significant effect on foliage deterioration. Silver vase developed most necrosis when stored at 50°F, the lowest storage temperature tested, but foliage showed little damage when held at 68°F, the highest temperature tested. Decreasing storage temperature had the opposite effect on 'Tricolor' foliage which incurred least damage when held at 50°F and developed the most necrotic areas when stored at 68°F (Table 1). Both species tested developed more necrosis as storage time increased from 1 to 4 weeks. Only necrosis on silver vase was affected by interaction of storage temperature and duration. Plants developed less necrosis when stored at any temperature for 2 weeks or less, and displayed the most injury when stored for 3 to 4 weeks at 50°F (Table 2).

Results of this test indicate that the plants of different genera utilized in this experiment responded differently to various storage temperatures. However, all plants tested showed increased foliage damage at any temperature as storage duration exceeded two weeks time. It is generally true of many foliage plant species that best quality is maintained when shipping duration does not exceed two weeks.

*Professor of Plant Physiology, Professor and Foliage Extension Specialist, and Professor and Center Director, respectively. Central Florida Research and Education Center, 2807 Binion Road, Apopka, FL 32703-8504.

Additional Reading

1. Conover, C.A. 1980. Maintaining foliage plant quality during truck transit. Florist's Review 165(4290):31,69.

2. Conover, C.A. and R.T. Poole. 1983. Environmental factors influencing long-term shipping of foliage plants. ARC-Apopka Res. Rpt. RH-1983-3, 7pp.

3. Conover, C.A. and R.T. Poole. 1985. Influence of temperature and duration on simulated shipping of small potted foliage plants. Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 97:280-282.

1. Table 1. Effects of various storage temperatures and duration of storage on plant grade of Aechmea fasciata and Noregelia carolinae 'Tricolor', 30 October 1989.
   

1. ^Zplants graded on a scale of 1 = no necrosis, 3 = some necrosis, but still salable and 5 = severe necrosis, unsalable.
   ^Yns, *, ** Nonsignificant or significant at P = 0.05 or 0.01 respectively.
   

1. Table 2. Interaction of storage temperature and duration affect necrosis of Aechmea fasciata, 3 November 1989.^Z
   

1. ^ZResults significant at the 0.05% level.
   ^YPlants graded on a scale of 1-5 with 1 = no necrosis, 3 = some necrosis but still salable and 5 = severe necrosis, plant unsalable.