Quality loss in packed rose flowers due to Botrytis cinerea infection as related to temperature regimes and packaging design

The effects of package design and temperature treatment (cooling and rewarming) on the quality of rose flowers (cv. Sweet Promise) packed in five types of boxes were investigated, with special regard to fungus (Botrytis cinerea) infection. A significant increase of B. cinerea spotting was observed on flowers which had experienced both cooling and slow rewarming in the box. The infection rate of rewarmed flowers ranged from 42 up to 95%, whereas the infection rate of untreated flowers was 30%. The flowers, which were taken out of the box directly after the cooling period and immediately placed in vases, in most cases had the same level of spotting as the untreated flowers.