EFFECT OF MODIFIED ATMOSPHERE PACKAGING ON CARNATION

Cut carnation ( Dianthus caryophyllus ) `White Sim' flowers from Columbia (South America), nontreated or dipped for three seconds in water or 9.5 g/1 benlate (DuPont) or 3336 (Cleary), were placed in “orchid tubes” and remained in air or were packaged in barrier bags of air or 10% CO 2 /10%O2 (80%N2). Postharvest life (days) was recorded, and the CO2, O2, and CH2=CH2 concentrations within the bags were monitored with gas chromatographs. Controls, nonsealed and in air, did not differ in postharvest life, indicating no benefit from a fungicide dip (P= 0.05). Botrytis was not observed in this test. Flowers sealed in bags did not differ in postharvest life (P= 0.05); however, when a single degree of freedom comparison was made (PR>F: 0.0001), their postharvest life was longer than controls (5.8 vs. 3.1 days). In bags, CO2 increased and O2 decreased over time, CO 2 remaining higher and O2 lower with the 10%CO2/10% O2 treatment. CH2=CH2 increased to 4 ppm over 10 days, but ppm within bag treatments did not vary on any day (P= 0.05).