POSTHARVEST STUDIES OF PRODUCTION AND POSTPRODUCTION TREATMENTS ON THE KEEPING QUALITY OF FICUS BENJAMINA L

Experiment 1. Ficus benjamina L. was dark stored for 0, 3, 6, 9 or 12 days and then held in a simulated interior environment (SIE) for 12 weeks under 6, 12 or 24 hr/day light duration of either incandescent (INC) or Cool White fluorescent (CWF) lamps at 20 (mu)E m('-2)s('-1) photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Leaf drop increased and plant grade decreased with longer days of dark. Plants lighted for 24 hr/day had less leaf drop and better plant grade. Chlorophyll content was greater under CWF with increasing light duration at 8 and 12 weeks.; Experiment 2. Ficus benjamina L. was held for 12 weeks under 20 (mu)E m('-2)s('-1) INC lamps, 20 (mu)E m('-2)s('-1) CWF lamps, or 10 (mu)E m('-2)s('-1) INC + 10 (mu)E m('-2)s('-1) CWF light combination, and received 4 light durations (6, 12, 18 or 24 hr/day). Growth index was greater under INC lamps. Leaf drop was reduced and plant grade was improved under the light combination. Dry weight and plant grade increased and leaf drop decreased under 24 hr/day light duration. Chlorophyll content increased from INC to light combination to CWF.; Experiment 3. Ficus benjamina L. was produced under 800 or 400 (mu)E m('-2)s('-1) PAR for 5 months, and held in a SIE under INC or CWF lamps maintained at 20 (mu)E m('-2)s('-1) or 10 (mu)E m('-2)s('-1) PAR for 12 weeks. Dry weight and plant grade were higher under 800 (mu)E m('-2)s('-1). Leaf drop increased under INC at 400 and 10 (mu)E m('-2)s('-1), and generally increased with decreasing light levels under CWF. Chlorophyll content was greater under 400 (mu)E m('-2)s('-1), and under CWF lamps.; Experiment 4. Ficus benjamina L. was dark stored for 4, 8 or 12 days at 3, 7, 21, 35 or 39(DEGREES)C, and then held in a SIE for 30 days. Plants stored at 21 or 35(DEGREES)C or stored for 4 days received no damage. Plants stored at 3, 7 or 39(DEGREES)C decreased in plant grade and increased in leaf loss and foliar damage as exposure time increased. Chlorophyll content was reduced as exposure time increased in plants stored at 39(DEGREES)C. Dry weight was reduced in plants stored at 3, 7 or 39(DEGREES)C after 12 days of exposure.