Summary
Histological examination of the ovary walls from ethylene-treated cut flowering stems of the carnation showed that the cells had enlarged and this appeared to account for the increased growth of the ovary which follows ethylene treatment of this flower. Sugar analyses of the flower parts indicated that growth of the ovary was accompanied by an increase in the ratio of sucrose to reducing sugars in the petals and ovary, and a net increase in sugars in the ovary. A sugar, tentatively identified as xylose, increased in the petals after ethylene treatment. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contents of the ovary also increased after the ethylene treatment. The results, consistent with the hypothesis that sucrose is translocated in response to ethylene, are discussed in relation to previous work relating to the involvement of ethylene in flower senescence.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abeles, F.B.: Growth and development effects of ethylene. Growth. In: Ethylene in plant biology. pp. 108–120, New York-London: Academic Press 1973
Bittner, D.L., Manning, J.: Automated neocuproine glucose method: Critical factors and normal values In: Automation in analytical chemistry, pp. 33–36. New York: Technicon Symposium 1967
Burg, S.P., Dijkman, M.J.: Ethylene and auxin participation in pollen induced fading of Vanda orchid blossoms. Plant Physiol. 42, 1648–1650 (1967)
Hall, I.V., Forsyth, F.R.: Production of ethylene by flowers following pollination and treatments with water and auxin. Canad. J. Bot. 45, 1163–1166 (1967)
Hanson, A.D., Kende, H.: Ethylene-enhanced ion and sucrose efflux in morning glory flower tissue. Plant Physiol. 55, 663–669 (1975)
Harris, G.P., Jeffcoat, B.: Effects of temperature on the distribution of 14C-labelled assimilates in the flowering shoot of carnation. Ann. Bot. 38, 77–83 (1974)
Harvey, E.M.: Some effects of ethylene on the metabolism of plants. Bot. Gaz. 60, 193–214 (1915)
Heslop-Harrison, J., Heslop-Harrison, Y.: Photoperiod, auxin and sex balance in a long-day plant. Nature (Lond.). 181, 100–102 (1958)
Ho, L.C., Nichols, R.: The role of phloem transport in the translocation of sucrose along the stem of carnation cut flowers. Ann. Bot. 39, 439–446 (1975)
Hough, L., Jones, J.K.N., Wadman, W.H.: Quantitative analysis of mixtures of sugars by the method of partition chromatography V. J. Chem. Soc. II, 1702–1706 (1950)
Kende, H., Baumgartner, B.: Regulation of aging in flowers of Ipomoea tricolor by ethylene. Planta (Berl.) 116, 279–289 (1974)
Lipe, J.A., Morgan, P.W.: Location of ethylene production in cotton flowers and dehiscing fruits. Planta (Berl.) 115, 93–96 (1973)
Lund, H.A.: Growth hormones in the styles and ovaries of tobacco responsible for fruit development. Amer. J. Bot. 43, 562–568 (1956)
MacRae, J.C.: Quantitative measurement of starch in very small amounts of leaf tissue. Planta (Berl.) 96, 101–108 (1971)
Muir, R.M.: Growth hormones as related to the setting and development of fruit in Nicotiana tabacum. Amer. J. Bot. 29, 716–720 (1942)
Nichols, R.: The response of carnations (Diathus caryophyllus) to ethylene. J. hort. Sci. 43, 335–349 (1968)
Nichols, R.: Induction of flower senescence and gynaecium development in the carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus) by ethylene and 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid. J. hort. Sci. 46, 323–332 (1971)
Nichols, R.: Senescence of the cut carnation flower: respiration and sugar status. J. hort. Sci. 48, 111–121 (1973)
Nichols, R., Ho, L.C.: Effects of ethylene and sucrose on translocation of dry matter and 14C-sucrose in the cut flower of the glasshouse carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus) during senescence. Ann. Bot. 39, 287–296 (1975a)
Nichols, R., Ho, L. C.: An effect of ethylene on the distribution of 14C-sucrose from the petals to other flower parts in the senescent cut inflorescence of Dianthus caryophyllus. Ann. Bot. 39, 433–438 (1975b)
O'Neill, H., Webb, R.A.: Simultaneous determination of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in plant material by automatic methods. J. Sci. Fd Agric. 21, 217–219 (1970)
Sourie, R.: Les glucides solubles des fleurs. Revue gén. Bot. 50, 527–531 (1938)
Stahl, E.: Thin-layer chromatography. London: Allen and Unwin 1969
Vomhof, D.W., Tucker, T.C.: The separation of simple sugars by cellulose thin-layer chromatography. J. Chromat. 17, 300–306 (1965)
Wiemken-Gehring, V., Wiemken, A., Matile, Ph.: Mobilisation von Zellwandstoffen in der welkenden Blüte von Ipomoea tricolor. Cav. Planta (Berl.) 115, 297–307 (1974)
Winkenbach, F., Matile, Ph.: Evidence for de novo synthesis of an invertase inhibitor protein in senescing petals of Ipomoea. Z. Pflanzenphysiol. 63, 292–295 (1970)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nichols, R. Cell enlargement and sugar accumulation in the gynaecium of the glasshouse carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) induced by ethylene. Planta 130, 47–52 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00390843
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00390843