Senescence of Eustoma Flowers as Affected by Pollinated Area of the Stigmatic Surface

Abstract

Senescence of Eustoma flowers is accelerated by pollination which is accompanied by an increase in ethylene production by flowers. We investigated the influence of pollinating different areas of the stigmatic surface on senescence in the flowers of 6 Eustoma cultivars. Anthers were removed from the flowers whose stigma had not yet opened. After the stigmas opened, freshly collected pollen from anthers of same cultivar were placed on them. The pollination levels on stigma were all area, 1/8 area or none (control). Senescence of flowers was significantly accelerated by all and 1/8 area pollination compared with the control. All areapollinated flowers wilted significantly earlier than did 1/8 area-pollinated ones in three cultivars. In the remaining three cultivars, senescence of flowers by all area pollination tended to be earlier than that of 1/8 area pollination. In 'Asuka-no-nami' flowers, ethylene production of flowers rapidly increased 1 day after all area pollination. However, in flowers with 1/8 area pollination, ethylene production slowly increased for 3 days after pollination. A large number of pollen tubes reached the base of the style 2 days after pollination in the all area-pollinated flowers, but on 3rd day in the 1/8 area-pollinated flowers. All area-pollinated flowers required silver thiosulfate complex (STS) at high concentration to delay senescence induced by pollination, compared with the 1/8 area-pollinated flowers. These results suggest that in Eustoma flowers, senescence that is induced by pollination, depends on the pollinated area of the stigmatic surface which resulted in ethylene production.

Postharvest Physiology and Technology of Cut Eustoma Flowers

“…To reveal whether a similar phenomenon occurs in Eustoma flowers, the influence of pollinating different areas of the stigmatic surface on the vase life of cut Eustoma flowers was investigated (Shimizu-Yumoto and Ichimura, 2006). Flowers of six cultivars were emasculated and placed in distilled water.…”

“…x Analysis by two-way ANOVA. Cited from Shimizu-Yumoto and Ichimura (2006). (Cited from Shimizu-Yumoto and Ichimura, 2006).…”

“…Each plot represents the mean of four replications ± SE. (Cited fromShimizu-Yumoto and Ichimura, 2006).…”

The Gentianaceae - Volume 2: Biotechnology and Applications

“…Harbaugh et al (2000) investigated the post-harvest performance of 47 cultivars of E. grandiflorum. Shimizu-Yumoto and Ichimura (2006Ichimura ( , 2010b investigated the pollination-related flower properties of Eustoma cultivars with different vase lives, which ranged from 8.8 to 16.8 days. The cut flowers of cultivars of another gentian, G. triflora, responded to the post-harvest treatments differently.…”

Post-harvest Physiology of Flowers from the Family Gentianaceae

“…Shimizu-Yumoto and Ichimura (2006Ichimura ( , 2010b investigated the pollination-related flower properties of Eustoma cultivars with different vase lives, which ranged from 8.8 to 16.8 days. They found considerable variation in distance from the stigma to anthers and in the pollinated area of the stigmatic surface, which affect the risk of pollination during handling and transport.…”