POSTHARVEST HANDLING OF CUT IMMATURE EUCALYPTUS FOLIAGE

Optimum postharvest and storage treatments were investigated for cut immature branches of Eucalyptus crenulata Blakely & Beuzev. and Eucalyptus gunnii J. D. Hook. The application of the germicide BCDMH at 10 mg/L of active chlorine, 100 muL Agral-600/L, or 0.25% sucrose to vase solutions significantly enhanced vase life in E. crenulata. Longevity in E. gunnii was significantly extended by sucrose (0.25-2% w/v), but not by germicides or Agral. Sucrose pulses (1-10% for 24 h at 20-degrees-C) or exogenous ethylene (50 muL/L for 24 h at 20-degrees-C) had no effect on the longevity of either species. Both species produced very low levels of ethylene immediately after harvest and after a 24-h simulation of dry transport at 20-degrees-C. Longevity was not significantly altered in either species by 35 days of dry storage at 1-degrees-C, or by 7 days of wet storage (branches held in distilled water + 50 mg DICA/L) at 1-degrees-C, but declined significantly in both species after 7 days of wet storage at 10-degrees-C.