Experiments demonstrated that bud necrosis in tulip bulbs is caused by mites that penetrate the flower bud during storage. This penetration is only possible if the buds, which are normally closed, are open at their tips. Such buds were found after administration of ethylene (3 ppm) during storage at 20~ shortly after lifting and in 'Red Champion' also after storage at higher temperatures (20 to 23 ~ in ethylene-free atmospheres. Open buds, caused by ethylene, resulted from unequal growth inhibition of the young leaves and stamens. The difference in sensitivity of both organs to ethylene decreased during storage. Later on, the growth inhibition of stamens and leaves became equal, and the buds remained closed. Then ethylene caused blasting of the flower buds. Open buds in 'Red Champion', caused by higher storage temperatures, resulted from aberrant differentiation of the tips of the young leaves.
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