The Horticulture Journal
Online ISSN : 2189-0110
Print ISSN : 2189-0102
ISSN-L : 2189-0102
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Ethylene-sensitive Abscission Layer Formation and Petal Senescence in Cut Dahlia Inflorescences
Yang YangShun TakenagaSho OhnoMotoaki Doi
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2021 Volume 90 Issue 4 Pages 460-468

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Abstract

Cut dahlia (Dahlia Cav.) flowers have recently become popular in Japan, but their marketability is limited by their poor vase life. During the postharvest period, the senescence of petals initiates from the outermost whorl and then proceeds into the inner petals. We found that the drawing resistances of petals in the dahlia ‘Kokuchou’, ‘Nesshou’, and ‘Saisetsu’ decreases with time because the petals gradually detach from the ovaries. A reduction in drawing resistance occurred prior to the end of vase life. Exogenous ethylene treatment of ‘Saisetsu’ cut inflorescences accelerated the decline of the petal drawing resistance and thus shortened the vase life. Ethylene production by individual florets in cut inflorescences began before or on the day of harvest. Simultaneously, abscission layers developed at the petal-ovary boundaries of the outermost florets. The florets without ovaries, which did not form the abscission layer, had a longer life than the florets with ovaries. Furthermore, we observed a marked rise in petal sugar contents in florets without ovaries compared to those with ovaries when maintained in 2% fructose. These results indicate that ethylene-promoted abscission layer development directs the course of petal senescence, which is characterized by wilting and discoloration due to a blocking of water flow and carbohydrates into the petals.

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