The Importance of Pre-cooling Methods and Usage Possibilities in Ornamental Plants

Abstract

In cut flower sector, preservation of flower quality parameters and vase life is very important in terms of both economical value of product and salability of product. Similarly, reaching of product from harvesting temperature to storage temperature quickly is of great importance in stage of eliminating of the chilling requirement the underground organs of bulbous ornamental plants after harvest. Several methods have been developed from the past to the present so as to increase of product quality and to minimize losses. One of these methods is also precooling method. Precooling is defined as fast and effectively lowering of product from harvest temperature to storage temperature. Precooling can be used to increase product quality and storage period in case of both to be put into cold storage after harvest and to be sell directly without storage. Depend on structural and physiological properties of agricultural products; precooling can be divided into three different methods including air, hydro and vacuum precooling. In this study, precooling methods were discussed in detail in terms of compliance with ornamental plants.