Inhibition of carnation petal inrolling by growth retardants and cytokinins

Citation
Ea. Taverner et al., Inhibition of carnation petal inrolling by growth retardants and cytokinins, AUST J PLAN, 27(4), 2000, pp. 357-362
Citations number
26
Categorie Soggetti
Plant Sciences","Animal & Plant Sciences
Journal title
AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY
ISSN journal
03107841 → ACNP
Volume
27
Issue
4
Year of publication
2000
Pages
357 - 362
Database
ISI
SICI code
0310-7841(2000)27:4<357:IOCPIB>2.0.ZU;2-0
Abstract
Excised carnation petals induced to senescence by ethrel (an ethylene-relea sing compound) exhibited morphological changes that closely resembled those of senescing petals in situ in cut flowers. The sensitivity of the excised petals to ethylene was reduced by exogenous cytokinin and this type of hor monal interaction in the control of plant development is discussed. Using t he excised petals, a number of known and potential growth inhibitors were c ompared for ability to prevent petal inrolling induced by ethrel. Cyclohexi mide and 6-methylpurine were the most effective and inhibited inrolling alm ost completely, but purine, purine riboside, lauric acid, L-azetidine-2-car boxylic acid and n-decyl alcohol were also very effective. All these compou nds were considerably more effective than any cytokinin tested. When suppli ed through the transpiration stream to short-stemmed carnations, cyclohexim ide, 6-methylpurine and purine inhibited inrolling nearly completely and th e flowers finally senesced by water loss. 6-Methylpurine inhibited ethylene production in cut flowers and RNA synthesis in excised petals very markedl y. Degradation of exogenous zeatin riboside by cytokinin oxidase, and the l evel of activity of the enzyme in petals, were reduced by 6-methylpurine. T hese biochemical changes probably account for the strong inhibition of inro lling induced by this compound.