ISHS Acta Horticulturae 405: VI International Symposium on Postharvest Physiology of Ornamental Plants
HORMONAL CONTROL OF CARNATION FLOWER SENESCENCE |
| Author: | J. van Staden |
| Keywords: | Auxins, cytokinins, ethylene, flower components, molecular biology |
| Abstract:
The carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) provides an excellent model for both the study and the discussion of cut flower senescence. The material is readily available for experimentation and the flower is climacteric, thus serving as a useful tool for studying physiological, biochemical and molecular aspects of the senescence process, even if not necessarily similar in all cut flowers. Due to the sensitivity of the carnation flower to ethylene this phytohormone has received considerable attention with respect to its longevity, frequently to the detriment and/or exclusion of the potential role of other hormones in the senescence process. Tissue sensitivity to ethylene; the sites of ethylene production; the magnitude of ethylene release and the extent of its interaction with receptor sites are all crucial in understanding hormonal involvement in senescence regulation in the cut carnation flower. The question at this time is whether other phytohormones are involved in, or interact with ethylene in the above mentioned aspects? Do different flower components react differently with respect to sensitivity? How are membranes affected and where would one expect the various phytohormones, if involved at all, to interact and/or exert their physiological effects? | |
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