DIFFERENCES IN DISPLAY LIFE OF MINIATURE POTTED ROSES (ROSA-HYBRIDA L.)

Commercial miniature potted rose cultivars (Rosa hybrida L.) varied dr amatically in their postharvest life. In some short-lived cultivars su ch as 'Bronze,' 100% of the flowers faded after 12 days. In long-lived cultivars like 'Vanilla' or 'Charming,' less than 10% loss in display quality took place after the same period. Flower senescence in some c ultivars was accompanied by a clear climacteric rise in ethylene produ ction, in others there was only moderate or very low ethylene producti on. Leaf, bud abscission and flower senescence were accelerated when p lants were exposed to exogenous ethylene, and there were marked differ ences in sensitivity and response to ethylene among cultivars. Longevi ty in the absence of ethylene was apparently related to timing of the onset of ethylene production. One cultivar with excellent longevity in air was also almost insensitive to exogenous ethylene, and indicates the potential for a breeding approach to increasing postharvest longev ity of these plants. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserve d.