A Simple Screening of Flower Sensitivity to Ethylene in Several Ornamental Asteraceae Species

Generally, Asteraceae flowers such as chrysanthemums and gerberas, are low ethylene-sensitive do not exhibit petal wilting abscission. However, previous research found that the of dahlia, an member belonging to tribe Coreopsideae, show abscission layer development in petal-ovary boundaries. In this study, we investigated ethylene sensitivity 17 ornamental species different tribes by measuring drawing resistance vase life after 1–3 μL·L−1 exposure for 20 h. Although more than half tested did respond ethylene, several showed fresh ray florets. Ethylene-sensitive occurred only two (Calendula officinalis L. Osteospermum L.) Calenduleae, while mainly six (Bidens ferulifolia D.C., Coreopsis lanceolata L., Cosmos atrosanguineus (Hook) Voss., bipinnatus Cav., sulphureus Cav. Dahlia Cav.) Coreopsideae one (Helianthus annuus Heliantheae. these species, petals maintained their turgidity, process could be detected The reduction resistance, associated with boundaries, was observed species. results study suggest senescing patterns may phylogenetic classification at level.