Changes in parameters of cell senescence in carnation flowers after cold storage

Abstract

The effects of cold storage on vase life, ethylene (C 2H 4) production, and parameters of cell senescence, were measured in flowers of spray carnation ( Dianthus caryophyllus L.), cultivar ‘Pink Royalette’. Storage for 6 or 12 days at 2°C led to a reduction in the subsequent vase life at 20°C. In addition, storage caused a reduction in the time between the rise in ethylene production and the end of vase life. That is, cold storage increased the sensitivity of the petal cells to endogenous C 2H 4. Normal aging of flowers for 6 days at 20°C led to decreased capacity of petals to take up [ 14C] sucrose, decreased activity of membrane ATPase, increased membrane microviscosity and decreased membrane phospholipid content, relative to the levels in fresh flowers. However, cold storage of flowers for 6 days at 2°C caused opposite changes in the levels of these senescence parameters (measured at constant temperature). It was concluded that cold storage does not simply lead to a slow rate of senescence, but has other effects on cell properties.