The existence of a critical period for the abscission and a non-critical period for blasting of flower-buds of Lilium ‘Enchantment’; influence of light and ethylene

Abstract

Flower-bud blasting and abscission, 2 dissimilar phenomena occurring in buds of Lilium ‘Enchantment’, can both be evoked by darkness or ethylene (C 2H 4). Flower-bud abscission is influenced more strongly than bud blasting by short light periods and C 2H 4. Flower-bud blasting can occur through out inflorescence development, abscission only during a critical stage of development of the flower-buds, which proved to coincide with a peak in the endogenous production of C 2H 4 by the buds and with the end of the meiotic phase of the stamens. Both C 2H 4 production by the buds and the occurrence of flower-bud abscission were influenced by the length of time the bulbs had been stored before planting.