Maintaining High Quality Roses by a Simple Locally-Made Forced-Air Cooling Unit

Cooling by ordinary room and forced-air cooling at different airflow rates (117.9, 58.5, and 15.75 L/sec) was conducted on cRosa hybrida cv. First Red. Four treatments were applied to flower buds harvested at three different times: early morning (6.00 A.M.), mid- morning (8.00 A.M.), and late morning (10.00 A.M.). Half-cooling time, flower fresh weight, head diameter, quality grade, vase life, and anthocyanin content were investigated till the end of the flowers vase life. The percentage of soluble carbohydrates in the stems of cut roses was also determined. Room cooling required the longest half-cooling time for flowers harvested at 10.00 A.M. Flower quality was maintained by applying forced-air cooling method and increased airflow rate. Vase life extension could be obtained by forced-air cooling, whereas, anthocyanin content and flower fresh weight and diameter were not affected by cooling. Flower quality and fresh weight were best maintained by late morning harvest, but flowers vase life, diameter, or anthocyanin content in petals were not affected. There was no significant difference in total sugar content in the stems of cut roses