PHYSIOLOGICAL APPROACHES OF DELAY IN FLOWER SENESCENCE IN CONNECTION WITH THE VASE-LIFE OF CUT FLOWERS

Clematis is a new species grown as cut flower, whose vase life is variable and cultivar-depended. Little is known about senescence of its cut flowers and their response to flower preservatives. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of a preservative (standard preservative SP, 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate plus sucrose) or a biocide solution (8-HQC) on certain senescence-related processes in cut clematis flowers. Analyses were done immediately after harvest and at the end of the vase life when control flowers held in water were wilting. A possible relationship between senescence parameters and the vase life of clematis taxa was also sought. As in most cut flowers, the contents of reducing sugars and soluble proteins in clematis petals decreased during the vase life while the proteolytic activity, including that of the cysteine protease, increased and was accompanied by accumulation of free proline and ammonium. Cut flower longevity in cultivars under study was not associated with the initial levels of reducing sugars, soluble proteins or free proline. Neither was the initial proteolytic activity or its increase during vase life related to the vase life itself: cultivars having comparable life spans differed dramatically in the initial and final proteolytic activities. Both solutions containing 8-HQC significantly affected the senescence-related processes and flowers held in them had more soluble proteins and lower proteolytic activity (total, and that of the cysteine protease) than control flowers held in water. Approximately a twofold increase in reducing sugars was observed in flowers held in SP relative to those held in water or in 8-HQC while the accumulation of free proline and ammonium was limited in their petals. This suggests a regulating action of exogenous sugar in senescence of clematis flowers. However, the delay of senescence produced by the preservative was not always associated with a longer vase life in any given cultivar. Further studies are needed to elucidate the role of sugar in clematis flower senescence.

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Postharvest physiology of cut flowers

Ornamental Horticulture ◽

10.1590/2447-536x.v27i3.2372 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Lucas Cavalcante da Costa ◽

Fernanda Ferreira de Araujo ◽

Wellington Souto Ribeiro ◽

Mirelle Nayana de Sousa Santos ◽

Fernando Luiz Finger

Keyword(s):

Ethylene Production ◽

Respiratory Activity ◽

Carbon Dioxide Concentration ◽

Ethylene Biosynthesis ◽

Flower Senescence ◽

Vase Life ◽

Cut Flowers ◽

Wide Range ◽

Ethylene Action ◽

And Control

Abstract The longevity of cut flowers is limited by their ephemeral nature and by multiple stresses. Impairment in water uptake, depletion of stored carbohydrates, increases in both respiratory activity and ethylene production are signatures of flower senescence. A wide range of techniques is available to extend flower preservation, including the use of flower preservative solutions, ethylene action inhibitors, growth regulators, and control of temperature and flower dehydration. The use of sucrose in pulsing solution, or as a component of vase solution, extends the vase life of flowers by either improving water balance and energy or delaying the senescence via reductions in ethylene biosynthesis. Inhibitors of ethylene production and action affect the longevity by extending the vase life of some ethylene-sensitive flowers. Flowers have intense respiratory activity, which may deplete the limited reserves of carbohydrates in the tissues. Lower temperatures markedly reduce both carbon dioxide concentration and ethylene production as well as its action. However, chilling-sensitive flowers, such as bird-of-paradise, heliconia, orchid, and ginger, cannot be stored below 10 to 13°C due to the intense development of tissue discoloration.

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Polyamines accentuate vase life by augmenting antioxidant system in cut spikes of Consolida ajacis (L.) Schur.

Ornamental Horticulture ◽

10.1590/2447-536x.v27i4.2368 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 27 (4) ◽

pp. 495-504

Author(s):

Aehsan ul Haq ◽

Sumira Farooq ◽

Mohammad Lateef Lone ◽

Shazia Parveen ◽

Foziya Altaf ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Reactive Oxygen Species ◽

Postharvest Quality ◽

Flower Senescence ◽

Vase Life ◽

Distilled Water ◽

Oxygen Species ◽

Cut Flowers ◽

Postharvest Senescence

Abstract Postharvest senescence is one of the crucial challenges limiting the marketability of cut flowers. Pertinently, recent investigations implicate extensive role of polyamines in regulation of flower senescence. The present study was envisaged to test the efficacy of poylamines in preserving the postharvest quality of Consolida ajacis (C. ajacis) cut spikes. The cut spikes of C. ajacis were subjected to various treatments of polyamines viz, 4 mM Spermine (SPM), 6mM Putrescine (PUT) and 6 mM Spermidine (SPD). A separate set of spikes held in distilled water represented the control. Our results authenticate a significant improvement in vase life of cut spikes of C. ajacis as compared to control. The increment in vase life was commensurate with the higher concentration of sugars, proteins and phenols in the tepal tissues. Polyamines amplified the activity of various antioxidant enzymes viz, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) to overcome the deleterious effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The membrane outflow of tepal tissues was profoundly reduced due to attenuated lipoxygenase (LOX) activity. These findings reveal conspicuous role of polyamines particularly SPM in modulation of flower senescence in cut spikes of C. ajacis.

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The Role of Soluble Sugars in Vase Solutions during the Vase Life of Eustoma grandiflorum

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.48.2.222 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 48 (2) ◽

pp. 222-226

Author(s):

Ya-Ching Chuang ◽

Yao-Chien Alex Chang

Keyword(s):

Sucrose Solution ◽

Sucrose Concentration ◽

Soluble Sugars ◽

Flower Senescence ◽

Vase Life ◽

Cut Flowers ◽

Eustoma Grandiflorum ◽

Flower Opening ◽

Stems And Leaves

The vase life of Eustoma cut flowers can be extended by adding sugars to the vase solution, but the exact role of sugars and how they are translocated in tissues are not clear. Thus, we observed the preserving effect of different sugars in vase solutions on Eustoma and compared sugar concentrations in vase solutions and in the flowers as well as stems and leaves of cut flowers in a solution containing 200 mg·L−1 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate (8-HQS) with and without 20 g·L−1 sucrose during different flowering stages. Inclusion of glucose, fructose, or sucrose in the vase solution extended the vase life of cut flowers with no significant differences among sugar types. During flower opening, the concentration of added sucrose in the vase solution dropped, and the fresh weight (FW), glucose concentration, and sucrose concentration of flowers in sucrose solutions increased, whereas flowers in solutions without sucrose had lower FW and glucose concentrations. During flower senescence, sugar concentration in the vase solution did not change much, but the FW and sucrose concentrations in all flowers declined, although the FW of sucrose-treated flowers fell more slowly. For stems and leaves in the sucrose solution, sugar concentrations increased during the first 7 days with only glucose slightly declining during senescence, whereas the FW was maintained during the entire vase life. In contrast, FWs of those in the solution without sucrose gradually declined. In conclusion, sucrose in the vase solution promoted flower opening and maintained the water balance of Eustoma cut flowers. Glucose and fructose also extended the vase life, likely in similar ways.

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Effects of Different Preservatives on Cut Flower of Luculia pinceana: A Novel Fragrant Ornamental Species

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci15724-21 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Lingfang Kong ◽

Fan Li ◽

Ronghui Du ◽

Huaiting Geng ◽

Shifeng Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Balance ◽

Flower Senescence ◽

Distribution Area ◽

Vase Life ◽

Cut Flower ◽

Cut Flowers ◽

Water Control ◽

Flower Bud ◽

Mda Content ◽

Bud Opening

Luculia pinceana is a potential cut flower because of its long-term blooming inflorescences and charming fragrance. However, its narrow distribution area and unexplored wild status severely restrict its applications, thus leading to the scientific research of cut L. pinceana flowers. To our knowledge, there is no available published information about the postharvest fresh-keeping of L. pinceana. During this study, the cut flowers of L. pinceana were tested using nine preservatives with different concentrations of sucrose and 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-HQ) to evaluate the fresh-keeping effects. Through the investigation and analysis of vase life, bud opening and abortion rate, water balance, malonaldehyde (MDA) content, and peroxidase (POD) activity, we selected and identified the best vase solution for cut L. pinceana flowers. The results suggested that the preservative of 1% sucrose and 100 mg/L 8-HQ could significantly prolong the vase life of cut L. pinceana flower up to 9 days compared with water control. This solution positively affects flower bud blooming, delays flower senescence, improves the water balance, inhibits the MDA accumulation, and increases POD activity. Therefore, this preservative is suitable for the fresh-keeping of cut L. pinceana flowers. Our study is the first to report the effects of preservatives on cut L. pinceana flower. The results showed that the low-sugar-containing (1% sugar) preservatives can effectively improve the ornamental quality of fresh flowers and demonstrated that the postharvest fresh-keeping of L. pinceana requires low sugar and is insensitive to microorganisms.

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Involvement of Ethylene in Physiological Processes Determining the Vase Life of Various Hybrids of Mokara Orchid Cut Flowers

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11010160 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 160

Author(s):

Melada Wongjunta ◽

Chalermchai Wongs-Aree ◽

Shoshana Salim ◽

Shimon Meir ◽

Sonia Philosoph-Hadas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ethylene Biosynthesis ◽

Physiological Parameters ◽

Flower Senescence ◽

Vase Life ◽

Limited Information ◽

Ethylene Inhibitors ◽

Cut Flowers ◽

Physiological Processes ◽

Development Processes ◽

Bud Opening

There is limited information about the postharvest performance and physiology of Mokara orchid cut flowers, which are a special group of artificially created trigenetic hybrids of Vanda × Arachnis × Ascocentrum. Therefore, we first characterized the patterns of various physiological parameters during vase life of five Mokara hybrids, which differ in their longevity. Then, we examined the effects of ethephon and ethylene inhibitors on these physiological parameters, and on parameters of the ethylene biosynthesis pathway, during vase life of two selected Mokara hybrids, “Moo-deang” and “Dao-lai”, which showed significant differences in their vase life duration and senescence symptoms. The results demonstrate that the differences in vase life longevity among the five Mokara hybrids are due to differences in their ethylene production rates, which regulate flower development processes expressed in bud opening and floret senescence. The results clearly show that ethylene is involved in the regulation of the Mokara flower senescence, and pretreatment with ethylene inhibitors significantly improved their vase life longevity. Thus, ethylene seems to be the main factor that determines the longevity differences of the Mokara hybrids, rather than their water relations parameters. This study can serve as a research tool for developing effective postharvest treatments for Mokara hybrids.

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Vase life consequences of natural and chemical treatments in foxtail lily (Eremurus spectabilis), as a specialty cut flowers

Ornamental Horticulture ◽

10.1590/2447-536x.v28i1.2419 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 120-129

Author(s):

Yeganeh Basiri ◽

Nematollah Etemadi ◽

Mahdi Alizadeh ◽

Ali Nikbakht ◽

Ghodratollah Saeidi

Keyword(s):

Methyl Jasmonate ◽

Flower Senescence ◽

Vase Life ◽

Cut Flowers ◽

Silver Thiosulfate ◽

Nano Silver ◽

Chemical Treatments ◽

Balance Loss ◽

Solution Uptake

Abstract Eremurus spectabilis is a new, commercially valuable specialty cut flower, but little is known about the applicable treatments to extend the vase-life and maintaining the ornamental quality of this flower. Therefore, the present study was aimed at investigating the impacts of nano-silver, essential oils, and chemical treatments on keeping ornamental quality and vase-life of cut inflorescences of Foxtail lily. The cut inflorescences were placed in different vase solutions containing salicylic acid (100 and 200 mg L-1), methyl jasmonate (25 and 50 mg L-1), silver thiosulfate (0.1 mM) plus isothiazolinone (0.001 and 0.005 mL L-1), nano-silver (5, 10, and 15 mg L-1), thymol (75 and 120 mg L-1), and menthol (75 and 120 mg L-1), which were applied as continuous and pulsing methods. According to the results, all treatments considerably improved the post-harvest performance of Foxtail lily cut flowers. Although there were no significant differences among nano-silver (NS) treatments, the cut inflorescences kept in vase solution containing 10 mg L-1 of NS exhibited the longest vase life (~14 days) and the best ornamental quality. Nano-silver treatment followed by silver-thiosulfate significantly improved solution uptake by flowering inflorescences, thereby delaying the water balance loss and keeping relative fresh weight. Furthermore, 50 mg L-1 methyl jasmonate- and 75 mg L-1 menthol-treated cut inflorescences exhibited significantly higher vase-life longevity by ~ 6 and 4 days, total soluble solutes by 28.38% and 19.12%, and solution uptake rate by 76.46% and 140.6%, respectively, as compared to control. Overall, 10 mg L-1 NS can be recommended as a commercial preservative solution to delay flower senescence and improve the vase life and keeping the quality of foxtail cut inflorescence.

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Combination Effect of 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) with Ajowan Essential Oil and Silver Nanoparticles on Postharvest Life of Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii) Cut Flowers

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci12299-17 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 52 (11) ◽

pp. 1550-1555 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Farzad Nazari ◽

Mahmoud Koushesh Saba

Keyword(s):

Silver Nanoparticles ◽

Essential Oil ◽

Antimicrobial Agents ◽

Flower Senescence ◽

Vase Life ◽

Combination Effect ◽

Gerbera Jamesonii ◽

Cut Flowers ◽

Preservative Solution ◽

Postharvest Life

Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii Bolus ex. Hook f.) is one of the most important cut flowers in floriculture industry with high economic value. Short postharvest life is the main barrier for gerbera marketing which is related to water relation disruption resulting from microbial population in preservative solution and exposure to ethylene. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to study the combination effect of an ethylene inhibitor, 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) (0 and 1 μL·L−1), and two antimicrobial agents, ajowan [Carum copticum (L.) C. B. Clarke] essential oil (EO) (0 and 15 μL·L−1) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) (0 and 40 μL·L−1), on postharvest life of ‘Pink Power’ gerbera cut flowers. The results showed that stem diameter reduced in both cut stem-end (CSE) and below the flower head (BFH) but the amount of decrease in CSE was more than BFH, and applied treatments had no significant effect on the decrease rate. However, both ajowan EO and AgNPs treatments reduced the number of bacteria at the CSE; ajowan EO was more effective than AgNPs and induced more vase solution uptake. Stem-end electrolyte leakage (EL) was unaffected by 1-MCP treatment, whereas petal EL was lower in 1-MCP-treated flowers. The least wilting percentage and the longest vase life were observed in combination treatment of 1-MCP and either ajowan EO or AgNPs. It could be concluded that 1-MCP combined with ajowan EO or AgNPs, potentially can be used as a preservative solution to enhance postharvest life, delay flower senescence, and prolong vase life of gerbera cut flowers.

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24-Epibrasinolide Modulates the Vase Life of Lisianthus Cut Flowers by Modulating ACC Oxidase Enzyme Activity and Physiological Responses

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10050995 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 995

Author(s):

Mohammad Darvish ◽

Habib Shirzad ◽

Mohammadreza Asghari ◽

Parviz Noruzi ◽

Abolfazl Alirezalu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Enzyme Activity ◽

Water Absorption ◽

Ethylene Production ◽

Oxidase Activity ◽

Acc Oxidase ◽

Postharvest Quality ◽

Vase Life ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Cut Flowers ◽

Oxidase Enzyme

Ethylene is the most important factor playing roles in senescence and deterioration of harvested crops including cut flowers. Brassinosteroids (BRs), as natural phytohormones, have been reported to differently modulate ethylene production and related senescence processes in different crops. This study was carried out to determine the effects of different levels of 24-epibrassinolide (EBL) on ACC oxidase enzyme activity, the final enzyme in ethylene biosynthesis pathway, vase life, and senescence rate in lisianthus cut flowers. Harvested flowers were treated with EBL (at 0, 3, 6, and 9 µmol/L) and kept at 25 °C for 15 days. The ACC oxidase activity, water absorption, malondialdehyde (MDA) production and vase solution absorption rates, chlorophyll and anthocyanin contents, and the vase life of the flowers were evaluated during and at the end of storage. EBL at 3 µmol/L significantly (p ≤ 0.01) enhanced the flower vase life by decreasing the ACC oxidase activity, MDA production and senescence rates, and enhancing chlorophyll and anthocyanin biosynthesis and accumulation, relative water content, and vase solution absorption rates. By increasing the concentration, EBL negatively affected the flower vase life and postharvest quality probably via enhancing the ACC oxidase enzyme activity and subsequent ethylene production. EBL at 6 and 9 µmol/L and in a concentration dependent manner, enhanced the ACC oxidase activity and MDA production rate and decreased chlorophyll and anthocyanin accumulation and water absorption rate. The results indicate that the effects of brassinosteroids on ethylene production and physiology of lisianthus cut flowers is highly dose dependent.

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