Accelerated ethylene production as related to changes in lipids and electrolyte leakage during senescence of petals of cut carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus)

Conditions inhibiting the action of (supply of silver thiosulfate) or the synthesis of (supply of α-aminooxyacetic acid) ethylene, prolonged the vase-life of carnation ( Dianthus caryophyllus L. cv. Ember) flowers. On the other hand, conditions which provoked an advance in the time of appearance of the ethylene rise (previous exposure to exogenous ethylene), accelerated senescence. This action on the morphological changes was accompanied by an effect on the efflux of electrolytes, which was advanced or delayed depending on the type of treatment, in comparison with the control.
The various factors acting on ethylene production also affected membrane lipids. Those which suppressed or delayed the ethylene rise, slowed down the degradation of the total and free fatty acids and the increase in the level of saturation of the chains. The opposite was observed when the ethylene peak occurred early. There was no correlation between the time of appearance of the burst of ethylene and the time of onset of lipid breakdown.
A 48 h water stress provoked neither an advance in the time of appearance of the ethylene peak nor an acceleration in lipid breakdown on return to normal conditions.