By recurrent selection and breeding, we have developed blue, white and pink colored genotypes of Lupinus havardii Wats, that have great potential as a specialty cut flower crop. Our current improved genotypes show very little flower abscission, although some flowers do senesce during vase life. This investigation forms a part of our ongoing studies related to evaluation of post harvest performance of cut racemes, and reports the results of the effect of ethanol (1-10%), alone and in combination withsucrose (SUC), on flower senescence and vase life of cut racemes. Increasing concentrations of ethanol reduced the senescence of flowers and greatly enhanced their display life. Ethanol (>5%), depending upon the genotype, induced moderate to severe collapse of inflorescence axis above the vase solution, although the flowers remained fresh for a long time. SUC and ethanol, in combination, acted additively, and further extended the vase life. Our initial experiments using ethylene inhibitors/promoters revealed that the effects of ethanol are partially mediated via inhibition of ethylene production and ethylene sensitivity.
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