考虑到作物的经济重要性，切花在收获后的生物化学、病理学、生理学和技术方面没有得到足够的重视。在最近的一篇论文中，罗杰斯（2）回顾了切花的采后生理学研究。Lutz和Hardenburg（1）在一份关于易腐商品储存信息的综合汇编中，给出了切花的建议储存条件，但在建议的基础上提供的信息很少。从历史上看，切花行业主要是花商的专业供应商。然而，随着分销技术的发展以合理的成本提供高质量的产品，该行业可能会转向通过超市进行大规模营销。开发大规模营销系统的主要需求是:1）高效的包装和搬运系统，2）低成本、高效的运输系统，3）温度管理； 最初冷却产品并在之后保持较低温度的能力，4）积累数据以评估切花与其他易腐物品在混合负载下的适应性，5）为每个品种开发合适的消费单元，以及6）开发适当储存、展示和销售鲜花所需的设施和培训人员。我们的经验主要是加州种植的康乃馨和玫瑰，我们的数据与这些物种有关。然而，这些原则可能适用于大多数切花。引文:研讨会，ASHRAE交易，第80卷，第一部分，加利福尼亚州洛杉矶

Considering the econamic importance of the crops, cut flowers have received inadequate attention concerning postharvest biochemistry, pathology, physiology and technology. In a recent paper, Rogers (2) reviews postharvest physiology research on cut flowers. Lutz and Hardenburg (1), in a comprehensive compilation of information on the storage of perishable commlodities, give recommended storage conditions for cut flowers but present little information on the basis for recommendations.Historically, the cut flower industry has been primarily a specialty supplier of florists. However, it appears possible that the industry may turn to mass marketing via supermarkets prowided the distribution technology ean be developed to deliver a high quality product at reasonable cost. Major needsa in developiug a mass marketing system are: 1) efficient packaging and handling systems, 2) a low cost, efficient transportation system, 3) temperature management; ability to cool the product initially and to keep the taperature low thereafter, 4) accumulation of data to assess campatibility of cut flowers with other perishables in mixed loads, 5) development of appropriate consumer units for each species, and 6) development of facilities and training of personnel needed to properly store, display and sell the flowers.Our experience has been largely with California-grown carnations and roses and our data are concerned with these species. However, the principles imrolved are probably applicable to most cut flowers.