Changes in parameters of cell senescence in carnation flowers after cold storage

The effects of cold storage on vase life, ethylene (C₂H₄) production, and parameters of cell senescence, were measured in flowers of spray carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.), cultivar 'Pink Royalette'. Storage for 6 or 12 days at 2°C led to a reduction in the subsequent vase life at 20°C. In addition, storage caused a reduction in the time between the rise in ethylene production and the end of vase life. That is, cold storage increased the sensitivity of the petal cells to endogenous C₂H₄. Normal aging of flowers for 6 days at 20°C led to decreased capacity of petals to take up [¹⁴C] sucrose, decreased activity of membrane ATPase, increased membrane microviscosity and decreased membrane phospholipid content, relative to the levels in fresh flowers. However, cold storage of flowers for 6 days at 2°C caused opposite changes in the levels of these senescence parameters (measured at constant temperature). It was concluded that cold storage does not simply lead to a slow rate of senescence, but has other effects on cell properties.