Modified atmosphere packaging as a method to extend postharvest life of tulip flowers

Figures & data

Table 1. Identification of the eight tulip cultivars evaluated during postharvest.

Cultivar	Colour	Group	Origin
Royal Virgin	White	Triumph	Tulip Flower BV
Ile de France	Red	Triumph	J.C.Knijn
Pretty Woman	Red	Lily Flowering	Jan van Bentem
Ollioules	Pink	Darwin Hybrids	Van Zanten Bros
Jan Van Nes	Yellow	Triumph	Konijnenburg & Mark
Margarita Púrpura	Purplea	Double Early	Jan Ligthart
Viking Naranjo	Orange	Double Early	J.W.Reus
Leen v/d Mark Bicolour	Orange	Double Late	Tomorrows Tulips BV

Note: Name of each cultivar, colour, group and company of origin are provided.

Table 2. Details of the treatments performed using active and passive MAP to store tulip flowers at 0°C for 20 and 31 days.

Treatment	Cold storage (days)	Packaging
T1	20	Active MAP
T2	31
T3	20	Passive MAP
T4	31
T5	20	Conventional packing
T6	31

Figure 1. Graphic description of the evaluations performed on tulip flowers, leaves and stems during vase life.

Figure 2. (A), Respiration rate and (B), ethylene production evaluated on 3 replicates of 10 tulip flowers each (composed by a mixture of 8 cultivars) (± SE, n = 3) stored at 0°C for 31 days using a cellulose film (cellophane^™) for packaging (conventional packaging).

Figure 3. Percentage of (A), O₂ and (B), CO₂ (± SE, n = 3) detected inside active and passive modified atmosphere packaging applied to 3 replicates of 10 tulip flowers each (composed by a mixture of 8 cultivars) stored at 0°C for 20 and 31 days.

Figure 4. Percentage of fresh weight loss (% FWL) (± SE, n = 3) evaluated at the end of the storage of 3 replicates of 10 tulip flowers each (composed by a mixture of 8 cultivars) submitted to active and passive modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and cellulose film (cellophane^™) packaging (Conventional P) for 20 and 31 days.

Figure 5. Pictures of the evolution of the vase life of 3 replicates of 10 tulip flowers each (composed by a mixture of 8 cultivars) after storage at 0°C for 20 and 31 days using active and passive modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and cellulose film (conventional).

Figure 6. Vase life observed on 3 replicates of 10 tulip flowers, stems and leaves (composed by a mixture of 8 cultivars) (± SE, n = 3) after storage at 0°C using active and passive modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and cellulose film (cellophane^™) packaging (Conventional P) for 20 and 31 days.

Table 3. Vase life mean (n = 6) of tulip flowers stored for 20 and 31 days at 0°C showing the differences between the type of packaging.

Packaging	Mean (days)
Active MAP	5.7 a*
Passive MAP	6.0 a
Conventional	3.3 b

Note: Distinct letters in the row indicate significant differences according to Tukey’s test (P ≤ .05).

Table 4. Vase life mean (n = 9) of tulip flowers stored using conventional packaging, active and passive MAP showing the differences between 20 and 31 days of storage at 0°C.

Cold storage (days)	Mean (days)
20	5.7 a
31	4.3 b

Note: Distinct letters in the row indicate significant differences according to Tukey’s test (P ≤ .05).