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New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science abstractsEffects of lifting time, curing, and storage treatments on tuber quality and cut-stem production of Sandersonia aurantiacaG. E. ClarkNew Zealand Institute for Crop & Food
G. K. BurgeNew Zealand Institute for Crop & Food
Abstract The effects of five tuber lifting dates (16, 18, 20, 22, and 24 weeks after planting), with and without curing (20°C for 7 days), and of three storage temperatures (4, 6, and 8.5°C) for three storage durations (90, 120, and 150 days) on subsequent tuber sprouting and stem quality of Sandersonia aurantiaca (Hook.) were investigated in two experiments. Tuber weight increased up to 18 weeks after planting. Tuber moisture loss in storage was greater for tubers lifted 16 weeks after planting (20.9%) than for tubers lifted subsequently (6.5–10.1%). Stem weight, stem length, and flower number per stem were lowest in the tubers lifted earliest (after 16 weeks). Week 18 from planting (stems showing leaf yellowing/senescence) is probably the earliest time tubers should be lifted. There were no benefits from curing the tubers. Percent tuber sprouting decreased slightly with increasing storage duration. Tuber sprouting time decreased with increasing storage duration, and at the longer storage duration with increasing storage temperatures. Stem length and weight increased with storage duration. Stem length was greater following storage at higher temperatures. Results indicate that temperatures around 8.5°C in combination with short-term storage periods of 90–150 days could improve the production of tubers stored until mid August. Keywords sandersonia; Sandersonia aurantiaca; tuber; lifting; curing; storage temperature; storage duration; tuber sprouting; sprouting period; stem quality H01031 Received 21 June 2001; accepted 20 February 2002
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