THE ROLE OF ETHYLENE IN THE POLLINATION AND SENESCENCE OF FLOWERS OF BULBOUS PLANTS

The ethylene evolution by the style of cut narcissus and gladiolus flowers was examined.
Pollination and/or wounding the style stimulated ethylene production.
The effect of wounding appeared after approximately one hour and was longlasting.
The existence of a gradient of ethylene evolution was found which decreased from the stigma toward the ovary.
This was induced by pollination and/or wounding.
Similar gradient of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid /ACC/ was found in the style.
Wilting of the corolla occurred shortly after pollination.
Ethylene evolution induced by pollination did not cause any significant changes in the permeability of cell membranes in the style; however, a second increase in ethylene production, prior to decay of the style, caused a rapid rise in permeability.

Ethylene was found to stimulate pollen germination and pollen tube growth in several species of bulbous plants.
These observations indicate that ethylene plays at least a dual role in the life of flowers.
It controls pollen germination and pollen tube growth, and also stimulates disintegration of the membranes and accelerates the onset of senescence in certain parts of the flower, excluding the ovary.

III International Symposium on Postharvest Physiology of Ornamentals

Z. Piskornik

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1986.181.55