Genotypic differences in vase life of Anthurium andraeanum (Hort.) cut-flowers are associated with differences in spathe chlorophyll content

Anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum (Hort.)) is an important crop in the worldwide cut-flower industry, valued in particular for its showy colors and long vase life, which varies from a few days to several weeks depending on the cultivar. Previous work suggested that long vase life is associated with the chlorophyll content of the spathe, especially when more light is available. Here we compare the vase life of ten anthurium cultivars covering a range of chlorophyll contents, using two light intensities: low light (40 µmol m−2 s−1) and high light (400 µmol m−2 s−1). The experiment was arranged in a factorial design with six replicate cut-flowers per cultivar per light intensity, and measurements were recorded weekly for cut-flower degradation, water uptake, spathe chlorophyll content and spathe hyperspectral reflectance. Cultivar differences in vase life were positively associated with differences in the initial spathe chlorophyll content (accounting for > 60 % of the variation). The use of high light also significantly increased vase life in three of the high chlorophyll cultivars. Chlorophyll content increased over time in some cultivars, and this increase was associated with extended vase life under high light (accounting for 69 % of the variation). In both cases chlorophyll content provided a better indicator of vase life than the red dip index (R800 nm – R685 nm) derived from hyperspectral reflectance. The results show that cultivars with a high initial chlorophyll content often have an ability to ‘re-green’ by increasing chlorophyll content while in the vase. Both high initial chlorophyll content and the ability to perform re-greening are associated with a longer vase life suggesting that chlorophyll activity in the spathe helps to maintain the cut-flowers.