Co-Authors:
Friedman, H., Dept. Postharvest Sci. Fresh Produce, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, 50 250 Bet Dagan, Israel
Rot, I., Dept. Postharvest Sci. Fresh Produce, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, 50 250 Bet Dagan, Israel
Abstract:
Packaging of unrooted cuttings of Plecteranthus, Heliotropium, Lantana, and Euphorbia in commercial cardboard or polystyrene containers was studied with regard to quality. The insulating properties of polystyrene and insulated cardboard containers were examined under fluctuating ambient temperatures ranging from -16°C to 22-25°C. Rates of temperature change inside polystyrene and insulated cardboard boxes were very similar to each other, even when containers were exposed to freezing temperatures. Upon transfer of boxes from 5 to 22-24°C, the temperature inside the boxes reached the ambient temperature within 4-6 hr. The presence of ice packs inside the cardboard or polystyrene containers maintained temperatures only 5 or 7-8°C below ambient, respectively. The quality of cuttings was examined after simulated shipment at ambient temperatures fluctuating between 5 to 22-24°C, selected to resemble adverse shipping conditions. Lantana and Plectranthus cuttings retained similar quality after simulated transport in all containers, but the quality of Heliotropium and Euphorbia cv. Purple Reign cuttings was lower in those transported in polystyrene than in cardboard containers. Placing ice packs in the polystyrene containers overcame the deleterious effects of these containers. Results show that insulated cardboard containers are not inferior to polystyrene containers for transporting cuttings, and are sometimes even better.