Effects of continuous treatment with sucrose on the vase life, soluble carbohydrate concentrations, and ethylene production of cut snapdragon flowers

Abstract

Effects of continuous treatment with sucrose on floret opening, vase life, carbohydrate concentrations, and ethylene production in cut snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus L. cv. Yellow Butterfly) flowers were investigated. Continuous treatment with sucrose at 25, 50, 75, or 100 g · liter-1 in combination with 200 mg · liter-1 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate markedly promoted floret opening and extended the vase life of flower spikes. The most effective sucrose concentration was 50 g - liter-1 so that this concentration was used for the following experiments. This treatment suppressed the decrease in fresh weight of florets. Glucose, fructose, sucrose, and mannitol were detected in petals. Glucose, fructose, and sucrose concentrations of petals in control spikes decreased one day after the harvest and remained at low levels but the sucrose treatment suppressed the decrease in these sugars. Regardless of the sucrose treatment, mannitol concentration gradually decreased. The onset of climacteric ethylene production was delayed by the sucrose treatment which suggests that the effects of sucrose for promoting bud opening and inhibiting flower senescence is attributed to an increase in sugar concentrations and the inhibition of ethylene synthesis.