Stem Bending Research Articles

Effect of Agrochemical (2,4-D) on Morphological Aspects of Cassia tora Linn

Present investigation carried out in the botanical garden and research laboratory of the college. The herbicidal activities of agrochemical (2,4-D) on Cassia tora Linn. have been studied. The morphological responses might produce some light on the manner by which this compound affected on plants. The plants were sprayed with aqueous solution of different concentrations of herbicide from 50 to 1000 ppm. 2,4-D at all concentrations showed the effect like epinasty, bending of stem and petiole, chlorosis and necrosis on leaves. The leaves burned, roots become swollen and finally decayed. Vegetative growth of plants was retarded and finally plants dried, the lethal dose of 2,4-D was 375 ppm.

The zinc finger protein PtaZFP2 negatively controls stem growth and gene expression responsiveness to external mechanical loads in poplar

Mechanical cues are essential signals regulating plant growth and development. In response to wind, trees develop a thigmomorphogenetic response characterized by a reduction in longitudinal growth, an increase in diameter growth, and changes in mechanical properties. The molecular mechanisms behind these processes are poorly understood. In poplar, PtaZFP2, a C2H2 transcription factor, is rapidly up-regulated after stem bending. To investigate the function of PtaZFP2, we analyzed PtaZFP2-overexpressing poplars (Populus tremula × Populus alba). To unravel the genes downstream PtaZFP2, a transcriptomic analysis was performed. PtaZFP2-overexpressing poplars showed longitudinal and cambial growth reductions together with an increase in the tangent and hardening plastic moduli. The regulation level of mechanoresponsive genes was much weaker after stem bending in PtaZFP2-overexpressing poplars than in wild-type plants, showing that PtaZFP2 negatively modulates plant responsiveness to mechanical stimulation. Microarray analysis revealed a high proportion of down-regulated genes in PtaZFP2-overexpressing poplars. Among these genes, several were also shown to be regulated by mechanical stimulation. Our results confirmed the important role of PtaZFP2 during plant acclimation to mechanical load, in particular through a negative control of plant molecular responsiveness. This desensitization process could modulate the amplitude and duration of the plant response during recurrent stimuli.

Sensing Miscanthus Stem Bending Force for Maximizing Throughput Rate in a Disk Mower-Conditioner

Abstract. One of the reasons for relatively high biomass harvesting cost is challenges in adjusting the ground speed of harvesting machines with respect to the yield level within a field. A real-time biomass yield sensor that can predict the yield in front of a machine could be a useful tool to control ground speed. It was hypothesized that the force required to bend Miscanthus stems is a reliable predictor of biomass yield. Based on this novel concept, a stem bending force-sensing system was developed and field tested with a disk mower-conditioner. A bale-specific method, segmenting the field area from which a bale was formed, was developed to correlate sensed bending force and Miscanthus yield. The measured bending force showed a logarithmic relationship (R 2 = 0.80) with Miscanthus yield. The average error in predicting bale-specific yield was 10.3% for training data and 12.9% for validation data. The average error in predicting plot yield was 3.4% for training plots and 10.0% for validation plots. Using the developed logarithmic correlation model, yield maps were also generated. For the specific case analyzed, a proper control strategy to maximize throughput rate (mass per unit time) would be to either operate the mower-conditioner at the maximum feasible ground speed (9 km h -1 ) or at the maximum achievable throughput rate (60 Mg h -1 ). The yield-sensor controlled machine would result in 44.2% higher field capacity, 41.3% higher throughput rate, and 31.2% lower mowing-conditioning cost for the specific case analyzed compared to the operator-controlled machine. Studies are needed to extend the stem bending force-sensing concept to other thick-stemmed crop harvesting machines, such as sugarcane harvesters and coppice harvesters.

Fixation of the shorter cementless GTS™ stem: biomechanical comparison between a conventional and an innovative implant design

Conventional cementless total hip arthroplasty already shows very good clinical results. Nevertheless, implant revision is often accompanied by massive bone loss. The new shorter GTS™ stem has been introduced to conserve femoral bone stock. However, no long-term clinical results were available for this implant. A biomechanical comparison of the GTS™ stem with the clinically well-established CLS(®) stem was therefore preformed to investigate the targeted stem philosophy. Four GTS™ stems and four CLS(®) stems were implanted in a standardized manner in eight synthetic femurs. A high-precision measuring device was used to determine micromotions of the stem and bone during different load applications. Calculation of relative micromotions at the bone-implant interface allowed the rotational implant stability and the bending behavior of the stem to be determined. Lowest relative micromotions were detected near the lesser trochanter within the proximal part of both stems. Maximum relative micromotions were measured near the distal tip of the stems, indicating a proximal fixation of both stems. For the varus-valgus-torque application, a comparable stem bending behavior was shown for both stems. Both stems seem to provide a comparable and adequate primary stability. The shortened GTS™ design has a comparable rotational stability and bone-implant flexibility compared to a conventional stem. This study demonstrates that the CLS(®) stem and the GTS™ stem exhibit similar biomechanical behavior. However, a clinical confirmation of these experimental results is still required.

Effect of antimicrobial compounds on cut Gerbera flowers: Poor relation between stem bending and numbers of bacteria in the vase water

Gerbera flowers (Gerbera jamesonii) often show stem bending. In four cultivars (Tamara, Liesbeth, Cora, and Mickey), we tested the effects on bending of antimicrobial compounds (chlorine bleach, a slow release chlorine compound, 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate [HQC], silver nitrate, carvacrol and thymol), some combined with sugars. At concentrations used for other cut flowers, inclusion in the vase solution of several of the antimicrobial compounds delayed bending, had no effect, or hastened bending. Hastening of bending was found at higher concentrations. It was accompanied with visible damage on the stem ends. Results with HQC indicated high toxicity as it did not delay bending at any of the concentration tested (100–400mgL−1). At 200mgL−1 HQC induced growth of bacteria that were not found in the controls. The number of bacteria in the vase water showed a low correlation with bending. Visible toxicity on the stem surface was often associated with a high bacteria count. However, at relatively high concentrations of the antimicrobial compounds stem bending was associated with a low count. This indicated an effect other than bacteria. Water uptake was low in stems that bent early. It is hypothesized that material from dead stem cells resulted in a xylem blockage which led to early bending. Sucrose at 15gL−1 in combination with an antimicrobial compound (slow release chlorine, HQC) resulted in the absence of stem damage and produced much less bending than the same concentration of the antimicrobial compounds alone. Sucrose apparently counteracted the toxic effects of the antimicrobial chemicals.

FEM을 이용한 세라믹-세라믹 고관절 마찰소음의 불안정성 해석에 관한 연구

This paper describes the FEM analysis for squeak problem of the ceramic-on-ceramic hip joint system. The onset of hip squeak is estimated by the positive real parts of the eigenvalues in the hip joint system. From the complex eigenvalue analysis, the unstable frequencies and the corresponding mode shapes are determined at the certain severe friction coefficients. It is found that some bending and torsion modes of the femoral stem can be unstable due to the mode-coupling mechanism. It also shows that the magnitude of the friction coefficient plays a key role on the occurrence of hip squeak.

Ilyonectria palmarum sp. nov. causing dry basal stem rot of Arecaceae

During surveys conducted in 2010–2013, a complete breakage or bending of the trunk and a dry basal stem rot were observed on containerised Brahea armata, B. edulis, Howea forsteriana and Trachycarpus princeps plants in different nurseries located in eastern Sicily (southern Italy). A cylindrocarpon-like species was consistently obtained from diseased palm tissues, while known pathogens of these hosts such as Ganoderma, Phytophthora and Thielaviopsis were not found associated with symptomatic tissues or isolated on standard or selective media. A total of 40 cylindrocarpon-like isolates were collected and characterised based on morphology and DNA phylogeny. Multigene analyses based on the β-tubulin, histone H3, translation elongation factor 1-α, and the internal transcribed spacers (ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2) genes facilitated the identification of a new species, described here as Ilyonectria palmarum. The pathogenicity of one representative isolate collected from each palm species was tested on plants cultivated under nursery conditions and in a growth chamber. All isolates were pathogenic to B. armata, B. edulis, H. forsteriana, and T. princeps and symptoms identical to that observed in nurseries were reproduced. Dry basal stem rot and stem bending caused by Ilyonectria palmarum represents a potentially serious problem for nurseries cultivating containerised palms.

Growth and molecular responses to long‐distance stimuli in poplars: bending vs flame wounding

Inter-organ communication is essential for plants to coordinate development and acclimate to mechanical environmental fluctuations. The aim of this study was to investigate long-distance signaling in trees. We compared on young poplars the short-term effects of local flame wounding and of local stem bending for two distal responses: (1) stem primary growth and (2) the expression of mechanoresponsive genes in stem apices. We developed a non-contact measurement method based on the analysis of apex images in order to measure the primary growth of poplars. The results showed a phased stem elongation with alternating nocturnal circumnutation phases and diurnal growth arrest phases in Populus tremula × alba clone INRA 717-1B4. We applied real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplifications in order to evaluate the PtaZFP2, PtaTCH2, PtaTCH4, PtaACS6 and PtaJAZ5 expressions. The flame wounding inhibited primary growth and triggered remote molecular responses. Flame wounding induced significant changes in stem elongation phases, coupled with inhibition of circumnutation. However, the circadian rhythm of phases remained unaltered and the treated plants were always phased with control plants during the days following the stress. For bent plants, the stimulated region of the stem showed an increased PtaJAZ5 expression, suggesting the jasmonates may be involved in local responses to bending. No significant remote responses to bending were observed.

Effect of stem bending and soil moisture on the incidence of resin pockets in radiata pine

Mechanical bending stress due to tree sway in strong winds and water stress during drought are thought to contribute to the formation of resin pockets, but it is unclear if these are linked and whether the initiation of resin pockets is influenced by the water status of the trees at the time of stem bending. The effect of stem bending on the formation of resin pockets was evaluated under various soil moisture conditions. The stems of 12-year-old radiata pine (Pinus radiata D.Don) trees were bent mechanically in spring or summer when the soil was water deficient, and in summer after rehydration. After the completion of the growth season, a selected sample of trees was felled and stem discs were assessed for the presence of resin pockets, using disc photos and image analysis. All stem bending treatments were compared with control trees. Stem bending in spring or summer was found to increase the number of Type 1 resin pockets, but had no effect on the number of Type 2 resin pockets. The soil moisture conditions at the time of stem bending had no effect on the number of Type 1 or 2 resin pockets. The Type 1 resin pockets occurred in the inner part of the early wood, adjacent to the growth ring boundary. This suggests the Type 1 resin pockets were initiated in the mature wood, behind the cambium and zone of differentiation, and were not influenced by the water status of the tree stems at the time of stem bending.

Homo-dimerization and ligand binding by the leucine-rich repeat domain at RHG1/RFS2 underlying resistance to two soybean pathogens.

BackgroundThe protein encoded by GmRLK18-1 (Glyma_18_02680 on chromosome 18) was a receptor like kinase (RLK) encoded within the soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) Rhg1/Rfs2 locus. The locus underlies resistance to the soybean cyst nematode (SCN) Heterodera glycines (I.) and causal agent of sudden death syndrome (SDS) Fusarium virguliforme (Aoki). Previously the leucine rich repeat (LRR) domain was expressed in Escherichia coli.ResultsThe aims here were to evaluate the LRRs ability to; homo-dimerize; bind larger proteins; and bind to small peptides. Western analysis suggested homo-dimers could form after protein extraction from roots. The purified LRR domain, from residue 131–485, was seen to form a mixture of monomers and homo-dimers in vitro. Cross-linking experiments in vitro showed the H274N region was close (<11.1 A) to the highly conserved cysteine residue C196 on the second homo-dimer subunit. Binding constants of 20–142 nM for peptides found in plant and nematode secretions were found. Effects on plant phenotypes including wilting, stem bending and resistance to infection by SCN were observed when roots were treated with 50 pM of the peptides. Far-Western analyses followed by MS showed methionine synthase and cyclophilin bound strongly to the LRR domain. A second LRR from GmRLK08-1 (Glyma_08_g11350) did not show these strong interactions.ConclusionsThe LRR domain of the GmRLK18-1 protein formed both a monomer and a homo-dimer. The LRR domain bound avidly to 4 different CLE peptides, a cyclophilin and a methionine synthase. The CLE peptides GmTGIF, GmCLE34, GmCLE3 and HgCLE were previously reported to be involved in root growth inhibition but here GmTGIF and HgCLE were shown to alter stem morphology and resistance to SCN. One of several models from homology and ab-initio modeling was partially validated by cross-linking. The effect of the 3 amino acid replacements present among RLK allotypes, A87V, Q115K and H274N were predicted to alter domain stability and function. Therefore, the LRR domain of GmRLK18-1 might underlie both root development and disease resistance in soybean and provide an avenue to develop new variants and ligands that might promote reduced losses to SCN.

The promoted longevity of gerbera cut flowers using geranyl diphosphate and its analog

Terpenoids, the most abundant and structurally diverse class of plant secondary metabolites, play an important role in plants. With the purpose of obtaining new and better chemical preservatives, the present study investigated the effects of geranyl diphosphate (GDP), a precursor of terpenoids, and its analog on the vase life of cut flower gerbera. GDP and its analog were used in 5 different concentrations (0, 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg L^{-1}). Flowers were grouped into 9 different treatment groups: control (C), G25, G50, G100, G200, A25, A50, A100, and A200. The application of geranyl diphosphate and its analog resulted in increased solution uptake, fresh weight, soluble solids, membrane stability, and longevity of cut flowers and alleviated stem bending with the best observed results in the A100, A200, A50, and G100 treatment groups. According to the results, the present research indicated that GDP and its analog, and especially its analog, may promote the longevity of cut flowers via increased solution uptake, soluble solids, fresh weight, and membrane stability and alleviated stem bending.

Bending in cut Gerbera jamesonii flowers relates to adverse water relations and lack of stem sclerenchyma development, not to expansion of the stem central cavity or stem elongation

We studied stem bending in cut Gerbera flowers (Gerbera jamesonii cv. Tamara). Bending might be due to turgor loss. During vase life water uptake decreased more rapidly than transpiration, hence the flowers lost water. Net water loss did not occur in the floral head, but was found in the stem. It was largest in the segment (10–15cm below the floral head) where bending was localised. When comparing flowers that showed stem bending with those that did not, on day 7 of vase life, the fresh weight loss of 5cm stem segments was higher in the stems that had bent. Covering the stems with a flexible, thin sleeve of polypropylene plastic reduced transpiration and increased the time to stem bending from d 7 to d 14 of vase life. Additionally, stem bending might relate to stem elongation and to stem morphology and anatomy. Stems elongated by 1–1.5cm, in the uppermost 10cm, during the first two days of vase life. No relationship was found between stem elongation and bending. At harvest, the stems contained a large central cavity, starting at about 5cm from the root–shoot junction, and ending about 10cm below the floral head. The cavity extended upwards and laterally during vase life, but no relationship was found between cavity formation and stem bending. A cylinder of sclerenchyma in the stems was found to end about 20cm below the floral head, in summer. Bending was correlated with the extent of sclerenchyma formation and stem lignin levels. It is concluded that stem bending is due to net water loss from the stem, particularly in the area of bending, and to low mechanical strength in the upper part of the stems, which lack a sclerenchyma cylinder.

The effect of benzyl adenine, nano silver, 8-hydroxyquinolin sulfate, and sucrose on longevity improvement and some other quality characteristics of Dianthus CV. Cream Viana cut flower

Dianthus is an important decorative plant cultivated from long time ago. This plant is used in vase and stem-cut forms, and is economically valuable due to its production simplicity and reasonable price. The effect of benzyl adenine with concentrations of 25, 50, and 100 mg/L on Dianthus CV. “Cream Viana” cut flower was investigated in short-term treatment (48 hours) in this study. In addition, the effects of nano silver with concentrations of 2 and 4 ppm and 8- hydroxyquinol sulfate with concentration of 300 ppm plus 3% sucrose, as the continuous treatment (preservative solution) studied. The flowers were placed at the temperature of 20ºC, relative humidity of 80%, and photo-period of 14 hours provided by fluorescent light with light intensity of 15 micromole/m2×s in the upper part of the room. Life information following picking the flower were all analyzed during the measurement procedures; these parameters included relative wet weight of flower, flower diameter, soluble solids, degree of stem bending, percentage of stability index of cellular membrane, amount of Anthocyanin, and solution uptake. The results indicated short-term treatment by Benzyl adenine of 100 mg/liter concentration together with nano silver preservative solution of 4 ppm concentration plus 3% sucrose has the greatest impact on the longevity and qualitative characteristics of Dianthus flower. Keywords: Dianthus, Benzyl Adenine, nano silver, 8-hydroxyquinolin sulfate, Flower, post-harvest physiology

The Effect of Benzyl Adenine, Nano Silver, 8-hydroxyquinolin Sulfate, and Sucrose on Longevity Improvement and some other Quality Characteristics of Dianthus CV. Cream Viana Cut Flower

Dianthus is an important decorative plant cultivated from long time ago. This plant is used in vase and stem-cut forms, and is economically valuable due to its production simplicity and reasonable price. The effect of benzyl adenine with concentrations of 25, 50, and 100 mg/L on Dianthus CV. Cream Viana cut flower was investigated in short-term treatment (48 hours) in this study. In addition, the effects of nano silver with concentrations of 2 and 4 ppm and 8- hydroxyquinol sulfate with concentration of 300 ppm plus 3% sucrose, as the continuous treatment (preservative solution) studied. The flowers were placed at the temperature of 20°C, relative humidity of 80%, and photo-period of 14 hours provided by fluorescent light with light intensity of 15 micromole/m2×s in the upper part of the room. Life information following picking the flower were all analyzed during the measurement procedures; these parameters included relative wet weight of flower, flower diameter, soluble solids, degree of stem bending, percentage of stability index of cellular membrane, amount of Anthocyanin, and solution uptake. The results indicated short-term treatment by Benzyl adenine of 100 mg/liter concentration together with nano silver preservative solution of 4 ppm concentration plus 3% sucrose has the greatest impact on the longevity and qualitative characteristics of Dianthus flower.

A potential retardant for lodging resistance in direct seeded rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Sinniah, U. R., Wahyuni, S., Syahputra, B. S. A. and Gantait, S. 2012. A potential retardant for lodging resistance in direct seeded rice ( Oryza sativa L.). Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 13–18. Yield losses in rice are heavy, particularly when lodging occurs after heading. A major contributing factor towards lodging is the tall phenotypic characteristic of the plant. In rice, application of growth retardant can reduce plant height by means of internode retardation. In this study, paclobutrazol at 50, 100 and 200 ppm was applied as a foliar application at panicle initiation on MR 219 and MR 84 cultivars and its effects on growth, lodging resistance and yield were studied. Foliar-applied growth retardant inhibited plant growth and retarded internode and culm length but increased culm diameter. All treated plants had higher bending resistance compared with the control. A significant positive correlation was observed between increased culm diameter and stem bending resistance (r=0.885). Histological studies showed greater compaction of parenchyma cells with thickening of parenchyma cell walls. Treatments with either 50 or 100 ppm paclobutrazol gave significant retardation of internodes and gave higher stem bending resistance with significant increase in yield.

Influence of an Ice Storm on Aboveground Biomass of Subtropical Evergreen Broadleaf Forest in Lechang, Nanling Mountains of Southern China

This study focuses on the influence of the 2008 ice storm in China and subsequent forest rehabilitation dynamics up until 2011. All seven plots studied exhibited significant damage, with the total number of damaged trees varying between 63 and 92%. In addition, most trees suffered stem bending in 2008 and the extent of damage varied with tree diameter at breast high (DBH). Relationships between loss of biomass as dead trees and stand characteristics were analyzed by multiple stepwise regression. The results showed that the decrease in biomass (Y) could be related to altitude (X1), slope (X2), and aboveground biomass (AGB) in 2008 (X5) according to the following formula:Y=−0.02456X1+0.2815X5−1.480X2+51.23. After 2 to 3 years, tree numbers had declined in all seven plots. The mean increase in AGB (4.9 t ha−1) for six of the plots was less than the biomass loss as dead trees (9.4 t ha−1) over the 3 year periods. This corresponds to a release of CO2to the atmosphere for each plot. Therefore, the forests of Lechang in the Nanling Montains have probably acted as a carbon source to the atmosphere for a short period after the 2008 ice storm.

A treatment to improve the vase life of cut tulips: Effects on tepal senescence, tepal abscission, leaf yellowing and stem elongation

The vase life of cut tulips ( Tulipa spp.) is limited by a combination of leaf yellowing, tepal senescence, and tepal abscission. In many cultivars, moreover, high rates of stem elongation result in stem bending during vase life. In tests with the cvs. Apeldoorn and Frappant, stem bending could be prevented by treatment with ethylene or ethephon. However, these treatments resulted in poor flower opening. The ethephon treatment also resulted in precocious tepal abscission. The negative effect of ethephon on flower opening was overcome by a treatment with gibberellic acid (GA 3). GA 3 also somewhat delayed early leaf yellowing, but did not prevent the early tepal abscission induced by ethephon. The latter problem was overcome by a treatment with benzyladenine (BA). In addition, BA effectively delayed leaf yellowing and also delayed tepal senescence. However, BA produced browning of the lower stem end. This was prevented by the inclusion of calcium ions in the solution. The combination of chemicals (ethephon, GA 3, BA, and calcium ions) was similarly successful in a large number of other tulip cultivars tested. After adaptation of the concentrations the four chemicals were also effective if given as a pulse treatment shortly after harvest.

Actomyosin mediates gravisensing and early transduction events in reoriented cut snapdragon spikes

We investigated the involvement of the actomyosin network in the early events of the gravitropic response of cut snapdragon ( Antirrhinum majus L.) spikes. The effects of the actin-modulating drug, cytochalasin D (CD) and/or the myosin inhibitor, 2,3-butanedione-2-monoxime (BDM) on amyloplast displacement, lateral auxin transport and consequently on stem bending were examined. The inhibitory effect on cytoskeleton integrity was studied by using indirect immunofluorescence double-labeling of actin and myosin. Our results demonstrate that no organizational changes in actin filaments occurred in cortical and endodermal cells of the stem bending zone during reorientation. These results suggest that actin depolymerization is not required for amyloplast sedimentation. Unlike the chloroplasts in the cortex, the amyloplasts in the endodermis were surrounded by actin and myosin, indicating that amyloplasts may be attached to the actin filaments via the motor protein, myosin. This suggests the involvement of myosin as part of the actomyosin complex in amyloplast movement in vertical as well as in reoriented stems. This suggestion was supported by the findings showing that: (a) BDM or CD disrupted the normal organization of actin either by altering characteristic distribution patterns of myosin-like protein in the cortex (BDM), or by causing actin fragmentation (CD); (b) both compounds inhibited the gravity-induced amyloplast displacement in the endodermis. Additionally, these compounds also inhibited lateral auxin transport across the stem and stem gravitropic bending. Our study suggests that during stem reorientation amyloplasts possibly remain attached to the actin filaments, using myosin as a motor protein. Thus, gravisensing and early transduction events in the gravitropic response of snapdragon spikes, manifested by amyloplast displacement and lateral auxin transport, are mediated by the actomyosin complex.

Postharvest evaluation of vase life, stem bending and screening of cultivars of cut gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii Bolus ex. Hook f.) flowers

Vase life and stem bending are the main factors for evaluation of postharvest quality of cut gerbera flowers. Recently, many new gerbera cultivars with different vase life and especially stem bending have been produced. This experiment was conducted to assess the postharvest quality in 21 different important cultivars, screening and selection of cultivars have the highest vase life and the lowest stem bending as an applied and proper strategy using a basic pulse treatment (HQS 600 ppm, citric acid 300 ppm and sucrose 4%); because of very high variation in new cultivars and also cultivar dependent of stem bending in gerbera. The result showed that there are significant differences between cultivars for vase life, stem bending, ion leakage and water uptake. 'Tropic Blend', 'Cacharelle' and 'Aventura' cultivars had maximum vase life and 'Onedin', 'Ecco' and 'Entourage' had minimum vase life. Stem bending varied from 0 to 100% between different cultivars. The results led to the conclusion that screening, introducing and finally, cultivation of selected cultivars with high qualities can be used to minimize the postharvest disorders such as stem break in gerbera, and then to minimize the production costs. Key words: Cultivar screening, Gerbera jamesonii, postharvest quality, stem bending, vase life.

Effects of silver nanoparticles (SNP) on Gerbera jamesonii cut flowers

Gerbera vase life is most often terminated by stem bending and breaking or petal wilting. Effects of vase solutions containing 1 mg L –1 silver nanoparticles with or without 6% sucrose on gerbera ‘deep purple’ vase life, relative fresh weight, relative solution uptake, stem bending or breaking, stem end discolouration and ethylene production by petals, stem ends and stem necks were evaluated. The combination of SNP plus 6% sucrose increased vase life by 8 days compared with the deionised water control. Petal wilting and stem break were decreased by SNP plus 6% sucrose compared to the control. SNP plus 6% sucrose treatment enhanced ethylene production by petals, stem ends and stem necks during vase life. However, there were no obvious adverse effects of this increased ethylene on vase life parameters. Overall, results suggest that 1 mg L –1 SNP plus 6% sucrose has commercial potential as a vase solution for cut gerbera flowers.