Carnations: Relationship between timing of ethylene production and senescence of cut blooms

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Abstract
This paper identifies five morphological stages during the period from cutting the bloom until flower death, in carnations, Dianthus caryophyllus L. cv. Crowley Pink. The stages could be grouped into two phases, with the transition being triggered by the onset of ethylene production. When ethylene production was inhibited by silver thiosulphate, the boundary between the two phases was not as clearly defined, and the morphological changes occurring during the deteriorative phase (phase 2) differed from those present in blooms producing ethylene. The duration of phase 1 could be modified substantially by treatment; it was shortened by high temperatures and by the application of a pulse of l-aminocyclopropane-l-car- boxylic acid (ACC). In both these instances, the peak of ethylene production occurred earlier. Conversely, treatments that delayed ethylene production — e.g., a 10°C holding temperature — also extended phase 1, as did treatment with chemicals which inhibited ethylene production. All blooms ultimately senesced but some of the morphological changes (such as petal inrolling) were ethylene dependent whereas others were not.