Question

Mention any one reason to follow proper post-harvest techniques in floriculture.

Hint:

Cut flowers lose water and food fast. Post-harvest care keeps them fresh for longer.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understand post-harvest techniques:
Post-harvest techniques are the steps taken after cutting a flower. They include grading, conditioning, pulsing, cooling, packing and storage.
Flowers are living tissue and keep losing water and food after they are cut.

Step 2: Link the techniques to a reason:
A cut flower has no roots, so it cannot take in water or minerals on its own.
Without care it wilts, loses colour and drops petals within a day or two.
Proper handling slows this ageing by keeping the flower cool, fed and hydrated.

Step 3: State the reason:
The main reason is to increase the vase life and shelf life of the cut flowers.
Other benefits are less loss in transport, better quality and a better price in the market.

Final Answer:
Proper post-harvest techniques are followed to keep the flowers fresh for longer and so extend their vase life.