Effect of low temperature storage on conservation varieties of Chrysanthemum cutting

The objective of this research was to evaluate postharvest quality of ‘Lona’ and ‘Garfield’ varieties chrysanthemums, stored at different temperatures. The experiment was carried out in a plastic greenhouse at Pouso Alegre, Minas Gerais State, Brazil (22° 13'48" S, 45° 56'11" W and 832 m in height). The inflorescences were kept at 1.5, 2.5 and 5.0°C. The evaluated parameters were senescent flowers and necrosed ligules. The evaluations were performed in the open storage room at 4, 8, and 12 days, at room temperature. It was observed that chrysanthemum ‘Lona’ flower senescence was accelerated at 2.5 and 5.0°C; while for ‘Garfield’, the senescence was larger at 1.5°C. For ‘Lona’ and ‘Garfield’ chrysanthemums, the temperature of 1.5°C favored the development of necrosis.