EFFECT OF SODIUM BOROHYDRIDE ON THE ETHYLENE PRODUCTION AND CARBOHYDRATES STATUS IN PETALS OF CARNATION (DIANTHUS CARYOPHYLLUS L.) CUT FLOWER

Sodium borohydride (500 ppm NaBH₄) in a keeping solution inhibited ethylene production and delayed senescence of carnation flowering buds from 3–5 days longer than the control in distilled water.
However, exogenous ethylene (0.5 vpm for 24 h) caused irreversible wilting of opened flowers treated previously with NaBH₄.

On day 12, about 60% of the initial soluble sugars remained in the wilted petals from the control.
On the same day, the petals from flowers treated with NaBH₄ were not wilted and they had about 40% of their initial soluble sugars.

On day 14, transmission electron microscope observations of cut carnation petals revealed that the cell membranes of those treated with NaBH₄ remained intact.
The internal structure of the mitochondria was so well preserved that it was possible to metabolize the reducing sugars.

II International Symposium on Post-harvest Physiology of Cut Flowers

P. Camprubí, A. Aldrufeu, M. Pagés, R. Bargalló, J. López

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1981.113.7