Vascular occlusion in stems of cut rose flowers exposed to air: Role of xylem anatomy and rates of transpiration

Stems of cut rose flowers were exposed to air at 20°C and 60% relative humidity and then placed in water. The rate of water uptake in Frisco, Sonia, Madelon, and Cara Mia roses was maximally inhibited after 72, 36, 24, and 3 h of exposure to air. respectively. Anatomical observations showed no tyloses, gums, or deposition of hydrophobic material in the xylem conduits (tracheids and vessels) of any of the investigated cultivars. Frisco, Sonia, Madelon, and Cara Mia roses showed no difference in the number, the length, the wall thickness, or the diameter of the lumina of either the tracheids or the vessels. This indicates that differences in recovery are not related to capillary diameter or length.
During exposure to air the decrease in transpiration rate, fresh weight, and water potential was the same in Sonia, Madelon, and Cara Mia roses. Upon exposure to air Frisco roses lost less water than the other cultivars studied In Frisco roses stomatal conductance was similar to that of other cultivars, but the rate of cuticular transpiration was lower.
It is concluded that conservation of water through low cuticular transpiration is one of the reasons for the relatively slow development of the vascular occlusion in Frisco roses, but the differences between Sonia. Madelon and Cara Mia roses were not related to their rates of transpiration.