2009 Volume 8 Issue 3 Pages 359-364
To clarify factor contributing to cultivar variations in the vase life of unpollinated flowers, the vase life, ethylene production and sensitivity to ethylene were investigated using flowers from six cultivars of Eustoma. There was cultivar variation in flower vase life ranging from 9.8 to 18.5 days. In all cultivars, ethylene production by flowers increased during senescence. There was no significant correlation between the maximum amount of ethylene production until the petals wilted and the days of flower vase life. We tried to estimate the sensitivity to ethylene by the degree of flower diameter reduction after ethylene treatment. In six cultivars, relative flower diameter was either temporarily or continuously reduced by ethylene treatment. The flower diameter tended to be reduced more in short-lived cultivars than in long-lived cultivars following exposure to ethylene. These findings suggest that sensitivity to ethylene, which is indicated by a reduction of flower diameter, appears to be a factor involved in cultivar variation in the vase life of cut unpollinated Eustoma flowers.
