Acceleration of Senescence by Pollination of Cut 'Asuka-no-nami' Eustoma Flowers

Abstract

Factors, accelerating the senescence of cut Eustoma grandiflorum 'Asuka-no-nami' flowers, were investigated in relation to ethylene production. Pollination markedly accelerated petal senescence of cut Eustoma flowers. Petal senescence was also accelerated by crushing the stigma or removing the stigma and style, but not by the removing the pistil. The climacteric increase in ethylene production from flowers, petals, and pistil was significantly accelerated by pollination. Treatment with 2mM silver thiosulphate complex (STS), an ethylene action inhibitor, extended the vase life of pollinated flowers. These results suggest that the acceleration of flower senescence by pollination is mediated by ethylene.