Abstract
The vase life of cut flowers is determined by various physiological factors that determine the rate of their senescence. A thorough understanding of these factors is required in order to design treatments that will extend the vase life and delay senescence of cut flowers. Senescence of climacteric flowers such as carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus L. cv. Nordika and cv. Snow White) and freesias (Freesia refracta cv. Athena) is characterized by a climacteric rise in respiration rate and ethylene synthesis during the late stages. The increase in ethylene production is preceded by an increase in the sensitivity of the flowers to ethylene. Pulse treatments with sucrose caused a delay and suppression of the climacteric rise in ethylene synthesis and a delay in the climacteric maximum of the respiration rate. A pulse treatment for 24 hours with a 20% sucrose solution was most effective in extending the longevity of both carnations and freesias. The ability of the receptor molecules to bind ethylene is greatly reduced when flowers are pulse-treated with sucrose. In freesias, the ability to bind ethylene is reduced even further when flowers are treated with STS or 1-MCP. Ethylene synthesis in freesias is suppressed and inhibited when treated with STS or 1-MCP but longevity of the freesias and number of open florets on the stem is not increased. The uptake and distribution of sucrose in the buds of freesias is seen by the distribution of sucrose from the first bud on the stem to the next bud after the bud opens. The distribution of sucrose from one bud to the next results in more buds opening on the stem than that on the stems of STS or 1-MCP treated freesias. It is thus clear from the results of the study, that pulsing senescing climacteric flowers with sucrose increases the vase life of the flowers and suppresses ethylene sensitivity of the flowers, thus delaying the autocatalytic process of ethylene production. It is also evident from the results that the osmolality in the flowers has a direct influence on the metabolic processes of the flowers. In freesias, pulse treatment with sucrose increases the number of open buds on the stem and delays senescence of the florets.
Mr. C.S. Whitehead