A survey on the transport conditions and storage of roses (Rosa spp.) commercialized at CEAGESP flower wholesale in São Paulo City, Brazil

Abstract

There is little information about the problems that occur in the commercialization of roses (Rosa spp.) in Brazil, especially those from postharvest management. There is scarce research about the conditions of transportation of roses from the farm to the market and their storage. This study investigated the postharvest conditions and commercialization of roses at CEAGESP (Companhia de Entrepostos e Armazéns Gerais de São Paulo) Flower Wholesale, especially the perception of the permission holders about the customer's profile and the main challenges faced by them in selling their products. A questionnaire was applied to 48 permission holders in order to understand the main issues in the rose supply chain, related to their commercialization: shipping, storage and origin, as well as the water quality in the flowerpot in addition to the measurement of the temperature of the water used in the marketing and the interior of the vehicle used for transport. Some bacteria species can obstruct the xylem of the cut flowers, reducing their longevity. In this way, the number of bacteria was estimated in the water where the roses were kept during the commercialization in the market place. Twenty-five samples (50 mL) from the water in the rose flowerpots were collected to estimate the number of bacteria. Serial dilutions of each sample were prepared to evaluate the bacterial population. The most commercialized rose varieties at CEAGESP Flower Wholesale are Carolla and Tinike. The main postharvest disease observed in these roses was gray rot (Botrytis cinerea) and pest-mite (Tetranycus urticae). On average, water from deep wells (4.0 x 105 CFU mL-1) had less number of bacteria than water river (5.15 x 105 CFU mL-1) and tap water (1.0 x 106 CFU mL-1).