Factors limiting postharvest display life of Leucospermum cv. Firefly

Abstract Display life of Leucospermum cv. Firefly is restricted by foliage damage. Treatment with sucrose solutions, either continuously during display (1% sucrose) or for a 24 h pulse treatment at 20° C (5% sucrose), failed to reduce leaf desiccation. Continuous 5% sucrose treatment induced more severe leaf damage and reduced leaf display life further, whereas flower head display was increased greatly with continuous sucrose treatments. Preservatives improved the water balance (expressed as nett water loss) of inflorescences during display life, but failed to reduce the rapid decline in water uptake that occurred during the first days of display. During continuous treatment, transpiration was reduced, possibly as a result of greater leaf damage in treated inflorescences.