SUGARS PREVENT THE DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS OF GAMMA-IRRADIATION ON CUT CHRYSANTHEMUMS

Aqueous solution (2%) of sucrose, glucose, fructose, or maltose delaye d bloom wilting and foliage yellowing of cut chrysanthemums [Dendranth ema xgrandiflorum (Ramat.) Kitamura] caused by gamma irradiation at 75 0 Gy. Solutions of silver thiosulfate, sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, polyoxyethylene lauryl ether, potassium sorbate, mannitol, sorbitol, glycerol, 6-benzylamino purine, and gibberellin did not reduce irradia tion damage. Holding chrysanthemum cut flowers in a sucrose solution b efore and during irradiation did not influence the vase life, but hold ing the cut flowers in a sucrose solution following irradiation prolon ged the vase life, The results suggest that sugars reduce radiation-in duced physiological deterioration of chrysanthemums.