Open AccessTolerance to Low Temperature of Wild, Semi-cultivated, and Cultivated Poinsettia Genotypes
Author(s) -
Erik R. Navarro-López,
María Teresa Colinas-León,
Jaime Sahagún-Castellanos,
Emmanuel Cruz-San Pedro,
Irán Alía-Tejacal
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
hortscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.518
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 2327-9834
pISSN - 0018-5345
DOI - 10.21273/hortsci.39.4.837b
Subject(s) - bract , cultivar , horticulture , poinsettia , ethylene , biology , botany , relative humidity , chlorophyll , humidity , geography , inflorescence , biochemistry , meteorology , catalysis
Commercial red cultivars (Freedom and Subjibi), semicultivated (Xo-chimilco and Chapingo) and a wild genotype (Puebla) were stored at 2, 7 °C [96% relative humidity (RH)], and 18 °C (50% RH) for 24 and 48 hours. Variables considered were: CO 2 and ethylene production, color, chlorophyll content and appearance, evaluating cut leaves and potted plants. CO 2 and ethylene production were higher in the wild and semi-cultivated genotypes (cut leaves). The 2 °C temperature had an influence in CO 2 production, but it did not affect ethylene. In potted plants, bracts did not show changes in color components (brightness, chroma and hue) in relation to low temperatures or storage time. There were no differences in leaf chlorophyll (Spad) with the exception of one of the semi-cultivated genotypes (Xochimilco) where the 2 °C treatment reduced the spad units. Leaves and bracts showed a slightly wilted appearance after storage at 2 and 7 °C, but they recovered afterwards at ambient temperature of 18 °C.