PHYSIOLOGICAL-CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH SANDERSONIA-AURANTIACA FLOWER SENESCENCE IN RESPONSE TO SUGAR

Sandersonia aurantiaca is a liliaceous cut flower in which senescence is not regulated by ethylene. We stood flower stems in solutions of de ionized water (control) or sucrose (2%) and monitored the pattern of s enescence of individual flowers attached to the stems and quantified t he amount of carbohydrate and protein present in the flowers. Treatmen t with sucrose extended the postharvest life of flower stems by delayi ng the senescence of individual flowers attached to the flowering stem . Flowers on sucrose-treated stems were larger, firmer and brighter or ange than the control flowers. Flowers that were treated with sucrose also contained greater quantities of carotenoids, soluble and storage carbohydrates and soluble protein than the control flowers. The first visible signs of senescence occurred prior to any net loss of soluble carbohydrate or protein. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.