Ethylene-Induced Growth of Petals and Styles in the Immature Carnation Inflorescence

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Abstract
Summary Flowering stems of glasshouse carnations, cv White Sim, were cut when the corolla protuded about 5.0 mm above the calyx and were treated with c. 10 vpm ethylene for 24 h in closed chambers or a free-flow system. Petals elongated and the inflorescence (plus stem) gained fresh weight; the styles also elongated, increased their fresh weight but became visibly thinner than the untreated controls. Measurement of cell dimensions indicated that part of the growth was due to increased cell elongation in the basal part of the petal. These observations are discussed in relation to the very different response of the mature flower to ethylene.