Abstract
The time course of ethylene production by senescing carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L. cv. Sandrosa) flowers was studied. These flowers are unusual in that they do not exhibit an autocatalytic increase in ethylene production nor do they develop petal in‐rolling. Exposure of the flowers to exogenous ethylene resulted in a rise in their ethylene‐forming enzyme (EFE) activity and ethylene production, and at the same time a marked decline in their fresh weight. Natural senescence was also accompanied by a rise in EFE activity, but with no concomitant rise in 1‐amino cyclopropane carboxylic acid synthase activity nor in ethylene production. A shift in responsiveness to ethylene was observed, with young flowers more responsive to exogenous ethylene than older flowers. The results are discussed in terms of a proposed mechanism allowing for the decline in competence of this cultivar to respond to ethylene during senescence.
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