2015 Volume 84 Issue 2 Pages 172-177
2,4-Pyridinedicarboxylic acid (2,4-PDCA) was shown to prolong the vase life of cut flowers of spray-type ‘Light Pink Barbara’ (LPB) carnation, mainly due to the reduced ethylene production caused by inhibition of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase in the flowers. In addition, 2,4-PDCA has been suggested to accelerate flower opening in the flowers (Satoh et al., 2014). In the present study, we successfully developed a procedure to evaluate the activity of chemicals to accelerate flower (bud) opening by determining the shortened time (in days) to flower opening. Using this procedure, we could show the activities of several PDCA analogs to accelerate flower opening, in addition to their already-known activity to extend the vase life in cut flowers of ‘LPB’ carnation. Judging from their effectiveness in the acceleration of flower opening and extension of vase life, 2,3-PDCA and 2,4-PDCA were thought to be suitable agents for treatment of the flowers. The present study confirmed that PDCAs accelerate flower opening and retard senescence, which increase the number of open flowers, resulting in extension of the vase life of cut flowers of ‘LPB’ carnation.
