Influence of ethanol on climacteric senescence in five cultivars of carnation

The effects of ethanol on carnation(Dianthus caryophyllus L.) cut flowers w ere studied by treating five cultivars ('Yellow Candy', 'Sandrosa', 'Franci sco', 'White Candy', and 'Iury') with up to 8% ethanol solution and measuri ng vase life, solution uptake, delay in bud opening of flowers, and ethylen e production. Treatment with 4 or 6% ethanol increased the vase life of 'Ye llow Candy', 'White Candy', and 'Iury', but not of 'Sandrosa' or 'Francisco '. Cultivars showed variable response to ethanol treatment with regards to uptake of solution, vase life increment, and delay in bud opening. The high est increment in vase life after flower opening with 4% ethanol was for 'Ye llow Candy', where the vase life doubled. Total ethylene production in untr eated flowers varied according to cultivars; treatment with 4% ethanol inhi bited ethylene production as well as sensitivity to ethylene. 'Yellow Candy ' was the most sensitive to ethylene and most responsive to ethanol; 'Sandr osa' was the least sensitive to ethylene and least responsive to ethanol tr eatment. The effectiveness of ethanol in extending vase life correlated clo sely with the longevity, ethylene production, and ethylene sensitivity of e ach cultivar.