ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the behavior of cut owers and potted ornamental plants is studied regarding the physiological and environmental factors that affect the rate of senescence and longevity. Water uptake by cut owers, carbohydrate supply, and response of owers to ethylene interact alone or together to affect the length of the vase life. Depending on whether ethylene is the main cause of ower senescence, particular handling is required to extend vase life. Periodically, recuts of the ower stem or pulsing with sucrose improves the water uptake and oret opening of the bird-of-paradise. Any ower species or potted plants with high sensitivity to ethylene have a much better shelf life when treated with inhibitors of ethylene action such as 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) or silver thiosulfate (STS). The orchid Epidendrum ibaguense had a positive response by reducing ower abscission when treated with the aminoethoxyvivylglycine (AVG) inhibitor of ethylene synthesis. But in those owers insensitive to ethylene presence, water status and carbohydrate supply play a very important role in the length of the vase life. Thus, pulsing solutions containing sugar or STS may be effective in postponing earlier senescence in many ower species. Based on the rate of leaf yellowing and abscission of fruits and leaves, treatment of potted ornamental peppers with 1-MCP prolongs postproduction life in indoor conditions. However, ethylene partially reversed the inhibition of 1-MCP on leaf yellowing and abscission.
