ABSTRACT Flower stems of the Heliconiaceae family are gaining more and more space in the Brazilian market of ornamental plants and further knowledge about quality, productivity, and postharvest management is necessary. The objective of the present study was to evaluate heliconiaceae cultivated in full sun in the central-west region of Brazil in terms of agronomic traits and to determine the post-harvest durability of floral stems submitted to cold storage. Accessions of Heliconia bihai cultivar Caribea, H. bihai cultivar Iris Red, and H. rauliniana were evaluated. Quantitative and qualitative morphological characteristics and the total number of flower stems produced and number of marketable stems were obtained. Postharvest longevity was tested in a cold chamber at 16 ºC and 19 ºC and at ambient temperature of 26 ºC. Morphological characteristics such as the length, diameter and fresh mass of flower stems, inflorescence length, and postharvest durability of the inflorescences were the most affected. The most important variables were the quality of flower stems, productivity of marketable stems, and postharvest durability. The studied heliconias presented agronomic characters within the commercialization standards, highlighting H. bihai (Caribea) which presented the highest productivity. The best storage temperature for all accessions evaluated was 16 °C.

RESUMEN Alpinia spp. desempeñan un importante papel ecológico, como fuente de néctar, en el sotobosque de los bosques tropicales y subtropicales, donde muchas de estas especies son comunes. La especie perenne Alpinia purpurata (Vieill.) K. Schum. es nativa de las selvas tropicales de Asia y se ha utilizado como planta de corte ornamental debido a las exuberantes inflorescencias y la durabilidad posterior a la cosecha. Se investigó la morfología interna y externa, la biología floral y el sistema reproductivo de cuatro cultivares de A. purpurata, para apoyar los estudios de mejora genética de la especie. La inflorescencia de A. purpurata es terminal, globosa y tiene flores protegidas por brácteas coloridas y vistosas. Las flores blancas son tubulares bisexuales. La antesis floral de los cuatro cultivares duró entre 9 y 12 h. La viabilidad del polen fue superior al 80% durante todo el período de pre-floración en todos los cultivares evaluados. Durante la antesis, el estigma y la cresta de la antera fueron receptivos. La fructificación de los cultivares se observó después de la polinización cruzada manual. No se registró fructificación en los tratamientos de autopolinización espontánea, autopolinización manual y geitonogamia. La polinización natural indujo baja fructificación, lo que sugiere una baja disponibilidad de polinizadores en el área estudiada. La xenogamia obligatoria de A. purpurata es un facilitador para el desarrollo de nuevos híbridos para el mercado de plantas ornamentales.

ABSTRACT Alpinia spp. play an important ecological role as a source of nectar in the understory of tropical and subtropical forests and many are common. The perennial species Alpinia purpurata (Vieill.) K. Schum. is native to the tropical rainforests of Asia and has been used as an ornamental cut plant because of its lush inflorescences and post-harvest durability. The internal and external morphology, floral biology, and reproductive system of four A. purpurata cultivars were investigated to contribute to studies on the genetic improvement of this species. The inflorescence of A. purpurata is terminal and globose, and has flowers protected by colorful and showy bracts. The white flowers are tubular and bisexual. The floral anthesis of these four cultivars lasted 9 to 12 h, and the pollen viability was above 80% throughout the pre-flowering period in all evaluated cultivars. During anthesis, the stigma and anther crest were receptive because of the presence of stigmatic fluid. Fruiting was observed after hand cross-pollination, whereas no fruiting was recorded in the treatments with spontaneous self-pollination, hand self-pollination or geitonogamy. Natural pollination induced low fruiting, suggesting low pollinator availability in the studied area. The obligatory xenogamy of A. purpurata facilitates the development of new hybrids for the ornamental plant market.

Resumo A caracterização e avaliação morfológica de plantas são etapas imprescindíveis à classificação e a utilização do germoplasma para fins de melhoramento genético. Este estudo teve por objetivo ampliar os conhecimentos sobre a caracterização morfológica de quatro cultivares de Alpinia purpurata por meio de avaliações qualiquantitativas a fim de identificar genótipos com características promissoras para o mercado de plantas ornamentais. Quatro cultivares de A. purpurata (‘Jungle King’, ‘Kimi’, ‘Red Ginger’ e ‘Pink Ginger’) foram avaliados em um sistema de cultivo a meia sombra. Descritores morfológicos quantitativos como comprimento, diâmetro e número de folhas na haste floral, largura e comprimento da folha, largura e comprimento da inflorescência, massa fresca da haste floral, número de hastes produzidas e comercializáveis foram avaliados. Os descritores qualitativos foram avaliados na inflorescência, haste floral, pecíolo, folha e brácteas. A longevidade pós-colheita em câmara fria a 16 °C e 19 °C e temperatura ambiente a 26 °C foram testadas. As características quantitativas das cultivares ‘Jungle King’, ‘Kimi’ e ‘Pink Ginger’ que se destacaram foram: comprimento, diâmetro, massa fresca, durabilidade da haste floral, comprimento; largura da inflorescência e produtividade. A cultivar ‘Red Ginger’ não obteve destaque nas características quantitativas mencionadas para as demais cultivares. As características qualitativas que apresentaram variação entre as cultivares foram o formato e coloração da inflorescência. As cultivares ‘Kimi’ e ‘Pink Ginger apresentaram produtividade de 6654,32 e 7580,24 hastes ha-1 ano-1, respectivamente e as cultivares ‘Red Ginger’ e ‘Jungle King’ 6012,34 e 4037,03 hastes ha-1 ano-1, respectivamente. A durabilidade pós-colheita das quatro cultivares avaliadas em ambiente refrigerado foi superior a quinze dias e no controle foi inferior a oito dias. As cultivares ‘Jungle King’, ‘Kimi’ e ‘Pink Ginger’ apresentaram características qualitativas e quantitativas promissoras para a utilização no mercado de plantas ornamentais tropicais.

Abstract The characterization and morphological evaluation of plants are essential steps towards the germplasm classification and use in breeding. The objective of this study was to improve the morphological characterization of four Alpinia purpurata cultivars by means of qualitative evaluations to identify genotypes with promising traits for the ornamental plant market. Four cultivars of A. purpurata (‘Jungle King’, ‘Kimi’, ‘Red Ginger’ and ‘Pink Ginger’) were assessed in a partially shaded cultivation system. Quantitative morphological descriptors such as stem length and diameter, number of leaves on floral stem, leaf width and length, inflorescence width and length, fresh weight of floral stem and the number of produced and marketable stems were evaluated. The qualitative descriptors were evaluated on inflorescence, floral stem, petiole, leaf and bracts. Postharvest longevity was tested in a cold chamber (at 16 and 19°C) and at ambient temperature (26°C). The most outstanding quantitative traits of the cultivars ‘Jungle King’, ‘Kimi’ and ‘Pink Ginger’ were stem length and diameter, fresh weight, floral stem durability, inflorescence length and width and productivity. Cultivar ‘Red Ginger’ was less outstanding in the quantitative traits mentioned for the other cultivars. Variation among the cultivars was observed for inflorescence shape and color. The cultivars ‘Kimi’ and ‘Pink Ginger’ produced a stem yield of 6,654.32 and 7,580.24 ha-1 year-1, respectively, and cultivars ‘Red Ginger’ and ‘Jungle King’ 6,012.34 and 4,037.03 ha-1 year-1, respectively. The postharvest durability of the four cultivars evaluated under refrigeration exceeded 15 days and that of the control was less than 8 days. The qualitative and quantitative traits of the cultivars ‘Jungle King’, ‘Kimi’ and ‘Pink Ginger’ were promising for the tropical ornamental plant market.

Resumo A conservação pós-colheita é essencial para que as hastes florais mantenham sua originalidade, beleza e longevidade. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a durabilidade pós-colheita, por meio da qualidade visual e massa fresca, de hastes florais de Heliconia psittacorum (com três variações de cores) e H. densiflora, em três temperaturas sob condições de câmara fria (14 °C, 18 °C e 22 °C) e condição de laboratório (controle a 26 °C). Foi utilizado o delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro repetições e cinco hastes por parcela. Em hastes florais de H. densiflora, mantidas sob condições de laboratório, os primeiros sinais de senescência foram apresentados aos seis dias de avaliação. Para H. psittacorum, os primeiros sinais de senescência foram apresentados dos seis aos doze dias de avaliação. Indica-se o armazenamento de hastes florais de H. psittacorum (inflorescência de coloração 5R 4/10) por até nove dias em temperatura de 14 °C, H. psittacorum (inflorescência de coloração 2,5Y 7/10) por até seis dias, em temperaturas de 18 °C ou 22 °C e H. psittacorum (inflorescência de coloração 7,5YR 7/10) por até seis dias, em temperaturas de 14 °C ou 22 °C. Para H. densiflora foi recomendado o armazenamento em temperatura de 18 °C, por até seis dias. Para ambas as espécies e variações de cores de brácteas, as maiores reduções de massa fresca ocorreram em ambiente refrigerado.

Abstract Postharvest preservation is essential to maintain the peculiar features, beauty and longevity of flower stalks. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the postharvest durability, based on the visual quality and fresh weight of flower stalks of Heliconia psittacorum (with three-color variations) and of H. densiflora, in a cold chamber at three temperatures (14 °C, 18 °C and 22 °C) and in the laboratory (control treatment at 26 °C). A completely randomized design with four replications and five stems per plot was used. In flower stalks of H. densiflora under laboratory conditions, first signs of senescence were observed after six days of evaluation. For H. psittacorum, first signs of senescence were observed between 6 and 12 days of evaluation. For flower stalks of H. psittacorum (inflorescence color 5R 4/10), storage at 14 °C is recommended for up to nine days. At 14 °C or 22 °C, H. psittacorum (inflorescence color 2.5Y 7/10) at 18 °C or 22 °C for up to six days, and H. psittacorum (inflorescence of 7.7 YR 7/10) at 14 °C or 22 °C for up to six days. For H. densiflora, storage at 18 °C is recommended for up to six days. For both species and bract color variations, the reductions of fresh weight were greatest in the refrigerated environments.