Stress-induced Ethylene Production in Flower Parts of Cut Carnation Flowers Cv. Light Pink Tasman

Ethylene is a plant hormone with endogenous production associated with the process of senescence for a number of cut flowers. Different stressogenic factors, including signals such as pollination, exogenous ethylene and auxins have been found to be associated with the increase in ethylene emission and a specific tissue response has been documented. The present study was undertaken with the aim to investigate the role of external stress stimuli such as wounding and desiccation and the effect of IAA, NAA and 2,4-D and ethylene treatments on ethylene evolution of separated carnation flower parts. The experiments were conducted with cut carnation flowers (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) cv. Light Pink Tasman harvested in commercial maturity. Two groups of flowers were used: “A” – STS and non-STS pretreated. The flower heads were excised and dissembled to petals, ovaries and styles and young leaves from cuttings were taken. Ethylene production was measured by GC. The results showed that the reaction of component flower parts differed depending on the treatment used: wounding and desiccation accelerated the ethylene production in ovaries and styles; ethylene exposure resulted in enchanced ethylene emission of petals and auxin induced remarkable amount of ethylene released from leaves.