ABSTRACT
Each plant material has its own best harvest stage and this can vary depending on the use. Materials for preserving usually are harvested more mature than those for fresh and wholesale markets. Early death of flowers is a common cause of quality loss and reduced vase life for cut flowers. There are many environmental, physiological and bio-chemical factors affecting post harvest quality of cut flowers. Understanding these factors allows the grower and shipper to develop and implement optimum postharvest handling technologies for maintain quality for long duration. Envirotainers provide a dry-ice refrigeration system that could provide controlled temperatures suitable for use with cut flowers and would allow transport for a considerable distance at costs that would be more than recompensed by the improved quality of the flowers on arrival. Gladiolus an important commercial cut flower despite a substantial decline in production in recent years, gladiolus responds well to proper postharvest management.
