Vol. 79 No: 2

Title:
Sensitivity of Geraldton waxflower to ethylene-induced flower abscission is reduced at low temperature

Authors:
A.J. MACNISH, D.E. IRVING, D.C. HENRY, A.H. JOYCE and V VITHANAGE

pp: 293-297

Abstract:
Exposure to ethylene gas elicits flower abscission from cut stems of Geraldton waxflower (Chamelaucium uncinatum>/i> Schauer). Ethylene response rates in plants are mediated by temperature. At 20°C, flower abscission from waxflower ´Purple Pride` occurred upon 12 h exposure to 1 μ11^-1 ethylene. This ethylene treatment did not cause flower abscission at either 10 or 2°C. Moreover, flowers held at 2°C were insensitive to 48 h exposure to 1, 10 and 100 μ11^-1 ethylene. However, increasing the duration of treatment with 1 μ11^-1 ethylene at 10 and 2°C to 48 and 144 h, respectively, induced flower abscission.When flowers were held at 20°C in air without exogenous ethylene following continuous exposure to 1 μ11^-1 ethylene at 2°C, the duration required to elicit flower abscission was reduced from 144 to 72 h. Collectively, these responses show that maintaining harvested waxflower at low temperature (e.g. 2°C) is an effective means to minimise ethylene-mediated flower abscission.

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