Petal Abscission Research Articles

GENETICALLY ENHANCED POSTPRODUCTION QUALITY IN REGAL PELARGONIUM

Ethylene-induced petal abscission is a significant problem during commercial shipping and handling of Regal pelargonium (Pelargonium × domesticum). A genotype of Regal pelargonium was found which has exceptional production and postharvest characteristics. Individual floret longevity in this plant is about twice that of current commercial genotypes. Two progeny also displayed superior floral longevity. Although the three genotypes still respond to exogenous ethylene, they have significantly reduced rates of ethylene production and reduced ethylene responsiveness in comparison with the other genotypes evaluated. The newly bred genotypes exhibited dramatically prolonged whole plant longevity, and displayed more than twice the number of florets, compared with other evaluated genotypes. Floret longevity was strongly correlated with ethylene sensitivity (r 2 =0.93), but not with ethylene production. Therefore, reduced ethylene responsiveness is the most important determinant of enhanced postproduction performance in these superior genotypes.

Role of Ethylene and 1-MCP in Flower Development and Petal Abscission in Zonal Geraniums

Geraniums are sensitive to ethylene during shipping and respond by abscising their petals. Treatment of stock plants with ethylene (ethephon) in order to increase cutting yield resulted in earlier flowering in Pelargonium × hortorum `Kim' and `Veronica', but did not result in increased susceptibility to petal abscission following exposure to 1.0 μL·L-1 ethylene. Treatment of `Kim', `Veronica', `Fox', and `Cotton Candy' with 1.0 μL·L-1 ethylene resulted in increased petal abscission within one hour, with `Fox' being the most sensitive and `Kim' the least. Pretreatment of florets with 1-MCP for 3, 6, 12, or 24 hours at concentrations of 0.1 or 1.0 μL·L-1 decreased petal abscission in all cultivars following exposure to 1.0 μL·L-1 ethylene. Treatment with 0.1 μL·L-1 1-MCP for 1 hour reduced petal abscission rates in ethylene treated florets to that of non-ethylene treated controls in all cultivars except Fox. `Fox' florets, which are more sensitive to ethylene, required 12 to 24 hours of exposure to 1-MCP to reduce petal abscission rates to that of control flowers. Pretreatment of geranium plants with 1-MCP can be used to reduce petal shattering during shipping. Chemical names used: 2-chloroethanephosphonic acid (ethephon); 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP).

1-MCP blocks ethylene-induced petal abscission of Pelargonium peltatum but the effect is transient

Continual exposure to 1.5 μl l−1 ethylene caused 100% petal abscission within 2 h from detached flowers of Pelargonium peltatum (L.) ‘Pink Blizzard’ (ivy geranium) harvested just after the stigmatic lobes had separated. When flowering plants were first pretreated for 2 h with 1 μl l−1 1-MCP, ethylene-induced petal abscission was completely inhibited. However, the effect was transient, since percent abscission increased with time after 1-MCP treatment. Based on percent abscission from detached flowers after a 2-h ethylene exposure, the half-life of 1-MCP activity was about 2, 3 and 6 days after 1-MCP treatment at 25, 20.7, and 12°C, respectively, and there was no evidence for a residual effect after 4 or 5 days at 25 and 20.7°C, respectively. A second application of 1-MCP renewed the inhibitory effect. Following 1-MCP treatment, the force required to separate petals from the flower declined linearly with time. The time until complete loss of the inhibitory effect was strongly temperature dependent, e.g. ≈1 day at 25°C versus 3–4 days at 12°C. The usefulness of 1-MCP as a commercial treatment to prevent petal abscission from Pelargoniums will depend on shipping and storage temperature and application frequency.

Categories of Petal Senescence and Abscission: A Re-evaluation

In a previous paper (Woltering and van Doorn, 1988, Journal of Experimental Botany39: 1605–1616) we identified three types of flower life cessation: by petal wilting or withering, which was either ethylene-sensitive or insensitive, and by abscission of turgid petals, which was ethylene-sensitive. These categories tended to be consistent within families. Here we re-examine these relationships by testing a further 200 species, and a number of other families. As previously, flowering shoots were exposed to 3ppm ethylene for 24h at 20°C, in darkness. Most monocotyledonous species tested showed ethylene-insensitive petal wilting, although ethylene-sensitive wilting occurred in the Alismataceae and Commelinaceae. Petals of the dicotyledonous species tested were generally sensitive to ethylene, except for a few groups showing wilting (Crassulaceae, Gentianaceae and Fumariaceae, and one subfamily in both the Ericaceae and Saxifragaceae). Petal abscission was generally ethylene-sensitive, but ethylene insensitivity was found in some Tulipa cultivars and three Saxifraga species. In most tulip cultivars tested, the petals wilted and then fell. It is concluded that (a) the response to ethylene is often consistent within either families or subfamilies; and (b) a fourth category, ethylene-insensitive petal abscission, exists both in monocotyledons and dicotyledons.

Using a Seedling Hypocotyl Elongation Assay as a Genetic Screen for Ethylene Sensitivity of Seedling Geranium Cultivars

Experiments were conducted to determine if the seedling hypocotyl elongation and petal abscission assays could be used to identify differences in ethylene sensitivity among seedling geranium (Pelargonium ×hortorum) cultivars. When seedlings of six geranium cultivars were germinated and grown in the dark in the presence of the ethylene biosynthetic precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) at various concentrations, they exhibited the triple response (measured as reduced hypocotyl length). While seedlings from all six cultivars were sensitive to ACC, `Scarlet Elite' seedlings were most sensitive, and `Multibloom Lavender', `Elite White' and `Ringo 2000 Salmon' seedlings were the least sensitive when germinated and grown on 20 mm [2022 mg·L-1 (ppm)] ACC. Florets representing three developmental stages of each of the six cultivars were exposed to 1 μL·L-1 of exogenous ethylene for 0, 30, or 60 min to determine if differences in cultivar sensitivity could be determined for petal abscission. Of the six cultivars tested, `Ringo 2000 Salmon', `Multibloom Lavender' and `Elite White' were the least ethylene sensitive. Florets were also self-pollinated to test for cultivar differences in ethylene synthesis and subsequent petal abscission. Ethylene production and petal abscission were both promoted in self-pollinated florets compared to nonpollinated florets. `Ringo 2000 Salmon', `Multibloom Lavender' and `Elite White' florets produced similar amounts of ethylene as all other cultivars, but abscised fewer petals after pollination. Our results indicate that the seedling hypocotyls elongation assay may be used to identify geranium cultivars with reduced sensitivity to ethylene. The data also suggest that genetic variability exists among geraniums for both ethylene sensitivity and biosynthesis.

Regulation of pollination‐induced ethylene and its role in petal abscission of Pelargonium×hortorum

Pollination in geranium (Pelargonium×hortorum) results in rapid non‐autocatalytic ethylene production followed by abscission of turgid petals. In the present work, the regulation of post‐pollination ethylene was investigated in various floral organs. Ethylene production and petal abscission increased as the number of stigmatic lobes pollinated increased. Direct application of 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylic acid (ACC) to the stigma induced ethylene production and petal abscission only at high concentrations, which are not naturally present in the pollen. Application of aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG), an inhibitor of ACC synthase activity, to the stigma effectively prevented pollination‐induced ethylene production and petal abscission. Pollination increased the levels of ACC 46‐fold in stigma plus style tissue and 6‐fold in the basal portion of petals. Enhanced accumulation of N‐malonyl‐ACC (MACC), a conjugated form of ACC, was also observed in stigma and style tissues after pollination. Pollination increased the activity of ACC synthase 2.5‐fold in stigma and style tissues and 3‐fold in the basal portion of petals. At 2 h after pollination, a 4‐fold increase in the expression of the ACC synthase gene GAC‐1 was detected specifically in the stigma and style. In vivo activity of ACC oxidase was 1.5‐fold higher in pollinated than in unpollinated or wounded stigma and style. In the lower part of the pistil, the activity of ACC oxidase was lower than in the upper pistil, regardless of treatment. The activity of ACC oxidase was significantly higher in the basal portion of petals than the upper portion of petals. Pollination had no effect on the activity of ACC oxidase in petals. Treatment of florets with cycloheximide effectively prevented pollination‐induced petal abscission, but ethylene production was completely unaffected, providing evidence for the post‐transcriptional regulation of ethylene production. Stigma and style tissues accounted for 57% of the total ethylene production in the flower following pollination. When the stigma and style were removed and the top of the sterile ovary pollinated, there was no pollination‐induced ethylene production or petal abscission. We propose that rapid petal abscission in response to pollination results from increased ethylene production, which occurs via activation of ACC synthase primarily in the stigma and style. This contrasts with post‐pollination ethylene production in some wilting‐type flowers in timing, lack of autocatalytic ethylene and predominantly post‐transcriptional regulation.

Effect of pollination and exogenous ethylene on accumulation of ETR1 homologue transcripts during flower petal abscission in geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum L.H. Bailey).

We have isolated two cDNAs from geranium, PhETR1 and PhETR2. The deduced amino acid sequences of PhETR1 anti PhETR2 share 78% and 79% identity with ETR1 from Arabidopsis thaliana respectively. These genes are members of a multigene family and are expressed at moderate levels in leaves, pedicels, sepals, pistils and petals, and at very low levels in roots. PhETR1 and PhETR2 mRNAs are expressed in geranium florets long before they are receptive to pollination and transcript levels remain constant throughout floral development. Message levels of PhETR1 and PhETR2 in pistils and receptacles are unaffected by self-pollination or treatment with 1 micro/l ethylene that induces petal abscission. Our results indicate that the amount of PhETR1 and PHETR2 mRNA is not indicative of the level of sensitivity of geranium florets to ethylene.

First Report of Azalea Petal Blight Caused by Pestalotiopsis guepini in Argentina.

The most important azalea (Rhododendron spp.) growing area in Argentina is located in the outskirts of Buenos Aires. A disease of the azalea flower was detected during surveys conducted during September 1998. Irregular brown spots were uniformly distributed on petals and resulted in a flower blight that did not lead to abscission of petals. Pieces of infected petals were surface-sterilized for 1 min in 2% NaOCl, plated on potato dextrose agar, and incubated at 24 ± 2°C. Pure cultures were identified as Pestalotiopsis guepini (Desmaz.) Steyaert (synamorph P. guepini Desmaz.) based on morphological characteristics (1,2). Inoculation for pathogenicity testing was carried out by spraying a conidial suspension (1 × 106 conidia per ml) on plants with previously punctured petals. Inoculated plants with unwounded flowers, as well as noninoculated controls, were included. Plants were incubated in moist chambers at 24°C. Symptoms appeared on all punctured flowers within 4 to 5 days. Petals were blighted by 9 days after inoculation and were covered with black acervuli by 12 days after inoculation. Unwounded and noninoculated controls remained symptomless. The pathogen was reisolated from inoculated flowers, completing Koch's postulates. Pathogenicity of P. guepini on azalea leaves in Argentina was reported in 1991. This is the first report of P. guepini causing disease on azalea flowers in Argentina.

Translocation of 13C-Assimilates in the Spring Following Fall Assimilation of 13CO2 by 'Nijisseiki' Pear (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai).

Three-year-old 'Nijisseiki' pear (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai) trees were treated twice with 13CO2 in October (fall). The distribution of labeled 13C within the tree during dormancy and remobilization in the following season were determined. After leaf-fall, about 63% of the total 13C recovered from the tree was distributed in the roots. At anthesis the 13C content from the previous season's organs showed a significant decrease : the aerial organs decreased by about 53% and the roots by nearly 60%. About 35% of the total 13C recovered from the trees after leaf-fall was consumed by respiration until anthesis. New shoot, flower, and root growth accounted for 8.5%, 9.9%, and 3.9% of the total 13C recovered from the tree after leaf-fall, respectively. One month after anthesis, the 13C remaining in the previous season's organs, had further decreased, having been exported to the new leaves and current shoots. The 13C remaining in the fruitlets dramatically decreased because of the abscission of sepals, petals, stamens, and partial pistils (style and stigma). New roots had the highest concentration of 13C among all new organs. These data suggest that root systems play a special role in the storage of carbohydrates in young pear trees. All organs depend on carbohydrate reserves for spring growth, especially new roots which seem to depend on reserves for a longer time.

Isolation and Characterization of Putative Ethylene Receptor Genes from Zonal Geranium

In this study, the temporal and spatial regulation of putative ethylene receptor genes was examined during ethylene and pollination-induced flower petal abscission of zonal geranium (Pelargonium × hortorum L.H. Bailey). We used the Arabidopsis thaliana ETR1 gene as a heterologous probe to isolate two full-length cDNA clones, GER1 and GER2, from an ethylene-treated geranium pistil cDNA library. Both cDNAs share a high degree of DNA sequence similarity to ETR1, and examinations of deduced amino acid sequences indicate that the proteins encoded by each gene have the conserved ethylene binding and response regulator domains found in ETR1. Experiments focused on determining the temporal regulation of these genes revealed that both genes are expressed in geranium florets much earlier than when the florets become responsive to ethylene treatment, which is sufficient to cause petal abscission in 1 hr. Both genes are expressed in pistils throughout floret development. Experiments focused on determining the spatial regulation of these genes revealed that both genes are expressed at moderate levels in leaves, pistils, anthers, and petals, and are expressed at very low levels in roots. Preliminary evidence suggests that GER2 is transcriptionally regulated by ethylene in pistils after exogenous ethylene treatment. Currently, the transcriptional regulation of these genes in pistils after pollination is unknown.

Abscission of flowers and floral parts

The abscission of inflorescences, flowers, petals, sepals, styles, and stamens is discussed, with emphasis on the anatomy and ultrastructure of the abscission zones, and the role of cell wall degrading enzymes and hormonal control. Shedding of these parts is usually due to cell wall dissolution, but abscission of petals, stamens, and styles in some species occurs due to the forces generated by the growing fruit. Flower abscission is clearly regulated by ethylene, whilst auxins apparently decrease the sensitivity to ethylene. Petal, style and stamen abscission also seems to be controlled by endogenous ethylene. Auxin is apparently involved in abscission of styles and stamens, but in petals its role is at yet unclear. The ultrastructural data indicate high protein synthesis and high secretory activity of material toward cell walls of abscission zone cells. The physiological evidence indicates a role of both polygalacturonase and cellulase in cell wall dissolution, whilst the role of other cell wall degrading enzymes is still unknown. The physiological processes occurring in the walls of the separating cells should be distinguished from those relating to defence against microbial intrusion, such as deposition of lignin and suberin and tylose formation. Experimentation using mutants and transgenic plants may aid in separating these processes. Sequencing of the isoenzymes specific for the abscission zone and a search for abscission zone-specific promoters seems a requirement for the successful evaluation of the enzymes involved in cell wall degradation.

Effect of pollination on accumulation of ACC synthase and ACC oxidase transcripts, ethylene production and flower petal abscission in geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum L.H. Bailey).

Self-pollination of diploid zonal geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum L.H. Bailey) florets leads to a dramatic rise in ethylene production, followed by abscission within 4 h. Neither wounding of the stigma, pollination with tetraploid pollen, nor heat-killed self pollen could elicit as much ethylene production and petal abscission as self-pollination. A cDNA sharing sequence identity with ACC synthase (GACS2) and three different cDNAs sharing sequence identity with ACC oxidase (GACO1, GACO2, GACO3) were isolated from geranium pistils. Transcripts hybridizing with these probes increased slightly in response to self-pollination, but the degree of accumulation in response to various treatments did not correlate with ethylene production. When calculated on a per-plant-part basis, transcripts hybridizing with GACS2 were equally distributed among the stigma+style, sterile ovary, and ovary tissues, but transcripts hybridizing with the three ACC oxidase clones were differentially distributed. All transcripts were differentially expressed among the other tissues of the plant, with GACO1 being the most widely distributed. Ethylene production in geranium pistils was not autocatalytic. Propylene failed to induce ethylene production and ethylene did not induce the accumulation of ACC synthase or ACC oxidase transcripts. ACC accumulated in the stigma and style, and to a smaller extent in the sterile ovary, after pollination. These data support a model of pollination-induced ethylene production by post-transcriptional regulation of ethylene biosynthetic gene expression.

Petal Abscission in Rose Flowers: Effects of Water Potential, Light Intensity and Light Quality

Petal abscission was studied in roses ( Rosa hybridaL.), cvs. Korflapei (trade name Frisco), Sweet Promise (Sonia) and Cara Mia (trade name as officially registered cultivar name). Unlike flowers on plants in greenhouses, cut flowers placed in water in the greenhouse produced visible symptoms of water stress, depending on the weather during the experiment and on the cultivar. Cut Frisco roses showed no visible signs of water stress and the time to petal abscission was as in uncut flowers. In Sonia roses the symptoms of water stress varied from mild to severe, and the number of flowers in which the petals abscised varied from 100% (mild stress) to 0% (severe stress). An antimicrobial compound in the vase water of Sonia roses, or removal of the leaves, alleviated the symptoms of water stress and increased the number of stems in which the petals abscised. Cut Cara Mia roses showed severe symptoms of water stress in all experiments and petal abscission was found in only a few flowers, even when the stems were placed at 20 °C and low photon flux (15 μmol m -2s -1). Abscission in Sonia and Cara Mia roses was low or absent when the water potential of the leaves reached values below -2.0 MPa within the first 5 d of the experiment; such low values were not reached in Frisco roses. Addition of sucrose to the vase solution, together with an effective antimicrobial compound, had no effect on the time to petal abscission, at any light intensity. Placing flowers in far-red light also had no effect on abscission, compared with flowers placed in red light or white light of the same photon fluence. It is concluded that petal abscission in the rose cultivars studied is not affected by their water status unless the plants reach a low water potential (about -2 MPa) early on during vase life. Petal abscission is not inhibited by low light intensity nor affected by the Pr/Pfr ratio.

Postharvest characteristics of cut Camellia japonica L. ‘Kumasaka’

Open flowers of cut Camellia japonica L. ‘Kumasaka’ placed in deionized water at 20°C and 60% RH wilted after only two days; unopened flower buds lasted longer under these conditions, but failed to open. When open flowers were placed at high humidity, the vase life was four days, and was terminated by petal abscission. Petal wilting resulted from the failure of the cut stem to replace water lost mainly through the flower petals, and was associated with a fall in water potential, reduced fresh weight, and reduced xylem conductivity. Flower abscission was preceded by petal browning and necrosis and these symptoms occurred concomitant with the development of a sharp rise in ethylene production. Treatment of cut flowers with 0.2 mM silver thiosulfate for 24 h prevented flower abscission, but did not delay the occurrence of necrotic brown spots.

The Abscission of Rose Petals

Petal abscission was studied in twelve hybrid tea rose ( Rosa hybrida L.) cultivars. At about 20 °C the time to petal abscission in uncut stems in greenhouses was the same as in cut stems placed in water in the greenhouse or in a climate-controlled room. The time between petal unfolding and abscission depended on the cultivar, and varied between 12 and 35 d. The time to petal abscission of the cultivars was inversely correlated with their flower diameter at full bloom (linear regression, r 2 = 0·82). In the cultivars with a relatively large flower diameter (10-18 cm) the petals fell without visible desiccation symptoms, whereas in the group with a small diameter the petals were partially or fully desiccated when shed. Fertilization occurred in some flowers of a few cultivars studied. In cultivars with a relatively large flower diameter (Papa Meilland, Cocktail, Dr. Verhage, Tineke) it had no effect on the time to abscission in Motrea, Europa, and Carolien roses, which bear small flowers, the petals fell after fertilization, whereas in unfertilized flowers of the latter group of cultivars an abscission zone just above the uppermost node became active and all parts above this node (pedicel and flower) turned brown and desiccated, though remained attached for more than a month. It is concluded that in the cultivars investigated: ( a) the time to petal abscission was inversely related to their flower diameter, ( b) abscised petals were more desiccated in cultivars in which the time to abscission was longer, ( c) fertilization had little effect on the time to abscission in most cultivars, whereas the absence of fertilization prevented petal abscission in a number of the small-diameter cultivars where it was replaced by flower abscission, and ( d) cutting and placement in water at 20 °C did not affect the time to abscission.

The never ripe mutation blocks ethylene perception in tomato.

Seedlings of tomato fruit ripening mutants were screened for their ability to respond to ethylene. Ethylene induced the triple response in etiolated hypocotyls of all tomato ripening mutants tested except for one, Never ripe (Nr). Our results indicated that the lack of ripening in this mutant is caused by ethylene insensitivity. Segregation analysis indicated that Nr-associated ethylene insensitivity is a single codominant trait and is pleiotropic, blocking senescence and abscission of flowers and the epinastic response of petioles. In normal tomato flowers, petal abscission and senescence occur 4 to 5 days after the flower opens and precede fruit expansion. If fertilization does not occur, pedicel abscission occurs 5 to 8 days after petal senescence. If unfertilized, Nr flowers remained attached to the plant indefinitely, and petals remained viable and turgid more than four times longer than their normal counterparts. Fruit development in Nr plants was not preceded by petal senescence; petals and anthers remained attached until they were physically displaced by the expanding ovary. Analysis of engineered 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) synthase-overexpressing plants indicated that they are phenotypic opposites of Nr plants. Constitutive expression of ACC synthase in tomato plants resulted in high rates of ethylene production by many tissues of the plant and induced petiole epinasty and premature senescence and abscission of flowers, usually before anthesis. There were no obvious effects on senescence in leaves of ACC synthase overexpressers, suggesting that although ethylene may be important, it is not sufficient to cause tomato leaf senescence; other signals are clearly involved.

Ethylene Co-ordinates Petal Abscission in Red Raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) Flowers

The time-course of flower development of Rubus idaeus L. cv. Glen Clova was studied on detached buds opened in the laboratory. After sepal and petal opening petal abscission occurred with the petals from an individual flower being shed over 3-4 h. Abscission was accompanied by a peak in ethylene production. Treatment of flowers with aminoethoxyvinylglycine eliminated the peak in ethylene production but did not prevent petal abscission. However, petal loss was much slower, taking place over a period of days rather than hours. Abscission was more effectively retarded by silver thiosulphate. Exogenous ethylene accelerated the rate of petal abscission and senescence. The increase in ethylene production coincident with petal abscission appears to accelerate and co-ordinate the shedding of the separate petals on an individual flower. If ethylene is important in the induction of abscission it would appear that the low rate of production sustained in the presence of aminoethoxyvinylglycine must be sufficient.

Anatomy of Ethylene-induced Petal Abscission in Pelargonium × hortorum

When viewed under the light microscope, the abscission zone at the petal base of Pelargonium × hortorum consisted of small cells which, when stained with Toluidine Blue, possessed densely stained cells walls. After treatment with 1 μl l-1 ethylene at 22°C, the force required to separate the petals from the receptacle declined after a lag phase of only 30 min, with separation complete 60-90 min later depending upon the stage of development of the flower. Transmission electron micrographs of the petal abscission zones showed evidence of cell wall degradation, particularly in the middle lamella. These cells also contained extensive rough endoplasmic reticulum and numerous Golgi bodies ribosomes. When abscission was complete, cells at the fracture face showed evidence of breakdown of cellular compartmentalization, often with little sign of an intact tonoplast. Scanning electron micrographs of recently-abscissed surfaces showed that the epidermal cells surrounding the abscisson zone were turgid and rounded, whereas those of the mesophyll cells were partially collapsed. The micrographic evidence is consistent with the hypothesis that ethylene-induced separation is caused by rapid enzymatic of the cell walls.

Forcing Temperature Affects Postproduction Quality, Dark Respiration Rate, and Ethylene Responsiveness of Pelargonium × domesticum

Postproduction quality, net C exchange, and petal abscission in response to ethylene were compared following forcing at 21(day)/16C(night) or 18/13C(18-hour photoperiod) of two cultivars of Pelargonium × domesticum L.H. Bailey. Fewer petals of 2- to 6-day-old florets abscised in response to 60 minutes of 0.7 μl ethylene/liter on plants forced at low temperature than on plants forced at 3C higher temperature. Forcing temperature did not affect floret longevity or the number of florets opening during forcing, but the floral display under simulated consumer conditions was prolonged in low-temperature plants by the continued development of buds. Dark respiration rates at 21C were lower in leaves from plants forced at low temperature than in leaves of plants forced at the higher temperature. Differences in postproduction quality between plants forced at high and low temperatures may have been related to the reduced rate of carbohydrate depletion in low-temperature plants.

Heritable Differences in Postproduction Quality of Pelargonium ×domesticum

The postproduction quality of 33 cultivars and 178 Pennsylvania State Univ. breeding lines of Pelargonium ×domesticum L.H. Bailey was evaluated in a simulated consumer environment. Petal abscission was the primary factor that reduced postproduction ratings (PPR). The heterozygosity of some cultivars was indicated by the range of PPR of progeny from self-pollinations. This range of PPR implies that P. ×domesticum has genetic variation for postproduction quality that can be used in a breeding and selection program. Few progeny with high PPR were produced from either self- or cross-pollinations involving parents with low PPR. Many of the superior progeny resulted from parents with high PPR. Therefore, progeny with improved postproduction quality can be developed by selecting parents with high PPR.