Abstract

The effect of different concentrations of sucrose on some ornamental flowers of family Ranunculaceae was examined. Sucrose was found to enhance vase life in cut spikes of Aquilegia vulgaris and Consolida ajacis cv. Violet blue; besides it improves blooming, fresh and dry mass of flowers. A. vulgaris and C. ajacisexhibits abscission type of flower senescence, while senescence in Ranunculus asiaticus cultivars is characterized by initial wilting followed by abscission at later stage. In isolated flowers of R. asiaticus cultivars, sucrose was found to be ineffective in delaying senescence and improving post-harvest performance. The study reveals that sucrose treatment shows varied response in different flowers of the same family and its effect appears to be related to ethylene-sensitivity of these flower systems. The paper recommends that more elaborate studies need to be conducted on other ethylene-sensitive flowers to make a generalized argument on relationship between sucrose and ethylene sensitivity.

Key words: Aquilegia vulgaris, Consolida ajacis, Ranunculus asiaticus, abscission, wilting, sucrose, vase life, fresh mass, dry mass, senescence, Ranunculaceae.