ISHS Acta Horticulturae 543: VII International Symposium on Postharvest Physiology of Ornamental Plants
EXTENSION OF VASELIFE AND PREVENTION OF ETHYLENE-INDUCED FLOWER SHATTERING IN LUPINUS HAVARDII BY |
| Authors: | N. Sankhla, T.D. Mackay, T.D. Davis |
| Keywords: | bluebonnet, ethephon, flower abscission, flower senescence, |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.2001.543.8 |
| Abstract:
Lupinus havardii Wats. (Big Bend bluebonnet), a winter annual native to southwest Texas, produces attractive racemes on a long axis. The cut inflorescences have immense potential as a novel cut flower crop. In addition to the more common genotype with blue flowered racemes, we have also identified and developed pink and white fowered lines. Our studies have indicated that these selections vary substantially with respect to their ethylene sensitivity. Application of low levels (<100 mM) of ethephon (CEPA), through the cut inflorescence axis, induced flower shattering as well as abscission of young buds, although the "white flower" line turned out to be more tolerant than the "blue flower" line. Extremely low concentrations of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), supplied via Ethylblocâ solution, reduced flower senescence, and induced opening of additional flowers and prevented CEPA-induced flower shattering. It appears that 1-MCP is highly effective in protecting cut racemes of Big Bend bluebonnet against ethylene and thereby extending vaselife. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
