| ABSTRACT The gladiolus flower is classified as insensitive to ethylene. Thus, the signals that initiate senescence are poorly understood. This study evaluated the role of abscisic and gibberellic acids on postharvest senescence of 3 cultivars of cut gladiolus flowers (Gladiolus grandiflora Hort.). Stalks were harvested and placed in test tube containing 100 mL distilled water or an aqueous solution of abscisic acid (100 and 150 µM ABA), gibberellic acid (100 µM GA3), and fluridone (1 mM) for 24 h. Subsequently, flower stalks were placed in a test tube with distilled water, and the following variables were determined: stem longevity, fresh weight change, water uptake rate and transpiration rate during the vase life, as well as membrane stability index and... |
