Response of some ornamental flowers of family Ranunculaceae to sucrose feeding

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. ajacis exhibits 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.