1 Introduction.- 1.1 Production, Utilization and the International Trade.- 1.1.1 Production and Utilization.- 1.1.

2 International Flower Transport Trade.- 1.1.3 Nature of the Floriculture Industry.- 1.2 Future Trends in the Flower Industry.- 1.3 Quality in Flowers and Ornamentals.

- 1.3.1 Components of Quality.- 1.4 Postharvest Losses and Problems of Handling in Flowers and Ornamentals.- 1.4.1 Extent of Postharvest Loss.

- 1.4.2 Handling Problems Related to Flowers and Ornamentals.- 1.4.3 Recent Developments in Loss Reduction Biotechnologies in Flowers and Ornamentals.- References.- 2 Senescence of Flowers and Ornamentals -- Basic Principles and Considerations.

- 2.1 Definition and Terminology.- 2.2 Structural, Biochemical and Metabolic Changes Associated with Senescence of Flowers and Ornamentals.- 2.2.1 Ultrastructural Changes.- 2.

2.2 Biochemical Changes.- 2.2.3 Metabolic Changes.- 2.2.4 Changes in Pigments.

- 2.3 Hormonal Regulation of Senescence of Flowers and Ornamentals.- 2.3.1 Effects of Ethylene.- 2.3.2 Involvement of Other Plant Hormones.

- 2.4 Shedding of Flowers and Ornamentals (Foliage).- 2.5 Concluding Remarks.- References.- 3 Carnation.- 3.1 Introduction.

- 3.1.1 Postharvest Quality Requirements.- 3.1.2 Commercial Cultivars.- 3.1.

3 Production.- 3.2 Physiology and Biochemistry.- 3.2.1 Growth and Development.- 3.2.

2 Senescence of Cut Carnations.- 3.3 Postharvest Losses.- 3.3.1 Nature of Losses.- 3.3.

2 Causes of Losses.- 3.4 Loss Reduction Biotechnology.- 3.4.1 Cultural Practices.- 3.4.

2 Harvesting, Grading and Packaging.- 3.4.3 Low Temperature Storage.- 3.4.4 Controlled Atmosphere (CA) Storage.- 3.

4.5 Modified Atmospheric (MA) Storage.- 3.4.6 Low Pressure Storage.- 3.4.7 Use of Growth Regulators, Floral Preservative and Bud Opening Solution.

- 3.4.8 Control of Pests and Diseases.- References.- 4 Rose.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.

1.1 Postharvest Quality Requirements.- 4.1.2 Commercial Cultivars.- 4.1.3 Production and Distribution.

- 4.2 Physiology and Biochemistry.- 4.2.1 Growth and Development.- 4.2.2 Senescence of Rose Cut Flowers.

- 4.3 Postharvest Losses.- 4.3.1 Extent of Losses.- 4.3.2 Nature and Causes of Losses.

- 4.4 Loss Reduction Biotechnology.- 4.4.1 Cultural Practices.- 4.4.2 Harvesting and Packaging.

- 4.4.3 Low Temperature Storage.- 4.4.4 Controlled Atmosphere (CA) Storage.- 4.4.

5 Modified Atmosphere (MA) Storage.- 4.4.6 Subatmospheric (Hypobaric) Storage.- 4.4.7 Use of Floral Preservatives and Chemicals.- 4.

4.8 Control of Pests and Diseases.- 4.5 Vase Life Evaluation in Roses.- References.- 5 Chrysanthemum.- 5.1 Introduction.

- 5.1.1 Postharvest Quality Requirements.- 5.1.2 Commercial Cultivars.- 5.1.

3 Production.- 5.2 Physiology and Biochemistry.- 5.2.1 Growth and Development.- 5.2.

2 Senescence of Cut Chrysanthemum.- 5.3 Postharvest Losses.- 5.3.1 Nature of Losses.- 5.3.

2 Causes of Losses.- 5.4 Loss Reduction Biotechnology.- 5.4.1 Cultural Practices.- 5.4.

2 Harvesting, Grading and Packaging.- 5.4.3 Low Temperature Storage.- 5.4.4 Controlled Atmospheric (CA) Storage.- 5.

4.5 Modified Atmospheric (MA) Storage.- 5.4.6 Subatmospheric Pressure (Hypobaric) Storage.- 5.4.7 Floral Preservative and Bud Opening Solutions.

- 5.4.8 Control of Pests and Diseases.- References.- 6 Tulip.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.

2 Physiology and Biochemistry.- 6.2.1 Growth and Development.- 6.2.2 Senescence of Cut Tulip.- 6.

3 Postharvest Losses in Cut Tulips.- References.- 7 Orchid.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.1.1 Postharvest Quality Requirements.

- 7.1.2 Species and Commercial Cultivars.- 7.1.3 Production.- 7.2 Physiology and Biochemistry.

- 7.2.1 Growth and Development.- 7.2.2 Senescence of Cut Flowers of Orchids.- 7.3 Postharvest Losses in Orchids.

- 7.3.1 Nature of Losses.- 7.4 Loss Reduction Biotechnology.- 7.4.1 Harvesting, Packaging and Transportation.

- 7.4.2 Low Temperature Storage.- 7.4.3 Controlled Atmospheric (CA) Storage.- 7.4.

4 Low-Pressure Storage.- 7.4.5 Use of Ethylene Scrubbers.- 7.4.6 Control of Pests and Diseases.- References.

- 8 Gladiolus.- 8.1 Introduction.- 8.1.1 Postharvest Quality Requirements.- 8.1.

2 Cultivars of Commercial Importance.- 8.1.3 Production.- 8.2 Physiology and Biochemistry.- 8.2.

1 Growth and Development.- 8.3 Postharvest Losses in Cut Gladiolus.- 8.3.1 Cultivars.- 8.4 Loss Reduction Biotechnology.

- 8.4.1 Cultural Practices.- 8.4.2 Harvesting, Grading and Packaging.- 8.4.

3 Low Temperature Storage.- 8.4.4 Controlled and Modified Atmospheric Storage.- 8.4.5 Sub-Atmospheric Pressure Storage.- 8.

4.6 Use of Floral Preservative.- 8.4.7 Control of Pests and Diseases.- References.- 9 Other Cut Flowers.- 9.

1 Gerbera.- 9.1.1 Introduction.- 9.1.2 Senescence of Gerbera Cut Flowers.- 9.

1.3 Postharvest Losses in Cut Gerberas.- 9.1.4 Postharvest Loss Reduction Biotechnology.- 9.2 Anthurium.- 9.

2.1 Introduction.- 9.2.2 Loss Reduction Biotechnology.- 9.3 Gypsophila.- 9.

3.1 Introduction.- 9.4 Iris.- 9.4.1 Introduction.- 9.

4.2 Postharvest Biotechnology.- 9.5 Narcissus.- 9.5.1 Introduction.- 9.

6 Snapdragon.- 9.6.1 Introduction.- 9.6.2 Postharvest Losses in Snapdragon.- 9.

6.3 Loss Reduction Biotechnology.- 9.7 Statice.- 9.8 Freesia.- 9.9 Delphinium.

- 9.9.1 Introduction.- 9.10 Stocks.- 9.10.1 Introduction.

- 9.11 Zantedechia.- 9.11.1 Introduction.- 9.12 Paeonia.- 9.

13 Anemone.- 9.14 Aster.- 9.15 Rananculus.- 9.16 Sterlitzia.- 9.

17 Cut Greens.- References.- 10 Potted Plants.- 10.1 Chrysanthemum.- 10.1.1 Introduction.

- 10.1.2 Physiology and Biochemistry.- 10.1.3 Postproduction Losses in Potted Chrysanthemum.- 10.1.

4 Loss Reduction Biotechnology.- 10.2 Poinsettia.- 10.2.1 Introduction.- 10.2.

2 Physiology and Biochemistry.- 10.2.3 Postharvest Losses in Potted Poinsettias.- 10.2.4 Loss Reduction Biotechnology.- 10.

3 African Violets.- 10.3.1 Introduction.- 10.3.2 Physiology and Biochemistry.- 10.

3.3 Postharvest Losses in African Violets.- 10.3.4 Loss Reduction Biotechnology.- 10.4 Begonia.- 10.

4.1 Introduction.- 10.4.2 Post-Production Losses in Begonia.- 10.4.3 Loss Reduction Biotechnology.

- 10.5 Geranium.- 10.5.1 Introduction.- 10.5.2 Post-Greenhouse Losses in Geranium.

- 10.5.3 Loss Reduction Biotechnology.- 10.6 Kalanchoe.- 10.6.1 Introduction.

- 10.7 Easter Lily.- 10.8 Cyclamen.- 10.9 Gloxinia.- 10.10 Calceolaria.

- 10.11 Streptocarpus.- 10.12 Cineraria (Senecio hybridus).- 10.13 Rhododendron.- 10.14 Hydrangea.

- References.- 11 Foliage Plants.- 11.1 Introduction.- 11.1.1 Quality Requirements.- 11.

2 Physiology and Biochemistry.- 11.2.1 Growth and Development.- 11.2.2 Senescence of Leaves.- 11.

3 Post-Production Losses in Foliage Plants.- 11.4 Loss Reduction Biotechnology.- 11.4.1 Cultural Practices.- 11.4.

2 Acclimatization.- 11.4.3 Grading, Packing, and Storage.- 11.4.4 Maintaining the Health of Foliage Plants in the Home.- 11.

4.5 Control of Pests and Diseases.- 11.4.6 Use of Growth Regulators.- References.