Prediction of the Vase Life of Cut Lily Flowers Using Thermography

This study was conducted in order to predict the vase life of cut lily ‘Woori Tower’ flowers using a non-destructive thermal imaging technique. It was found that the temperature of cut lily flowers was maintained at 20℃ and was slightly lower than the air temperature until they bloomed. On the 11th day, when flowers bloomed, the temperature of leaves and flowers was measured to be 18.75±0.38℃ and 19.23±0.32℃ respectively, and their difference with ambient temperature was over 3℃. The flower temperature increased slightly when the vase life of cut lily flowers ended, and the temperature difference between the air and leaf temperature (1.77℃) and between the air and flower temperature (1.39℃) got smaller. No visible aging symptom was observed, but it was found that the temperature had risen due to water losses and less functional stomata. The vase life of cut lily flowers can be predicted based on changes in temperature and it will be also possible to predict the potential quality and vase life of cut flowers before harvesting them in greenhouses.