Water relations and keeping-quality of cut Gerbera flowers. III. Water content, permeability and dry weight of ageing petals

Abstract

The semipermeability of petal cells of cut Gerbera inflorescences changed with age, as was demonstrated by an increase of ion leakage. The date at which ion leakage increased depended on the cultivar and coincided with the decrease in water content of the petals. Temperature and cytokinin treatments affected water content and ion leakage, but not their coincidence. Inflorescences left on the plant showed neither an increase in ion leakage, nor a decrease in water content. Regression curves of water content on ion leakage and dry weight of petals are given. The consequences of the type of curves are discussed.