WATER RELATIONS OF CUT FLOWERS

Cellular turgidity of petal tissues is a primary determinant of flower petal

senescence in cut flowers ( Halevy and Mayak 1981, Trippi and Paulin 1984,
Whitehead et al 1984, Singh et al 2001, 2002). The termination of vase life of
many cut flowers is characterized by wilting of petals even though the stems are
placed in water (Nowak and Rudnicki,1990). The cut stems exhibit changes in
fresh weight which intially increases due to expansion of buds as well as
absorption of water but subsequently decreases due to due to decreased water
uptake as well as senescence of petals, (Burdett 1970, Halevy and Mayak 1981,
Singh et al 2001 ).

Due to decrease in water absorption and increased water loss through transpiration , the stem
develops water deficit conditions which causes wilting of petals ( Halevy and Mayak, 1981,
Singh and Moore 1992a, Singh and Arora1996, Chawla 2008 ). The decrease in water uptake
by the stem is mainly due to plugging of xylem vessels caused by growth of microbes mainly
bacteria in vase water or on the dipped portion of the stem ( Singh et al 2000, 2001, 2003 ). The
microrganisms increase stem resistance to water flow and decrese vase life (Zagory and Reid
1989, Louband and Van Doorn 2004 ). Microorganisms were considered to be an important
cause of reduction in water content. Besides, metabolites produced by certain bacteria water
uptake reduce longevity in carnations ( Aarts 1957a; Larsen and Cromarty 1967; Burdett 1970;
Garibaldi 1979; Accati et al 1981 ).

Exposure of cut flowers to water stress conditions, even for short periods, led
to an earlier appearence of senescence symptoms ( Borochov et al 1982, Mayak
et al 1985, Paulin et al 1985 ). Water stress also an earlier loss of membrane
integerity, decline in membrane phospholipid content ( Mayak et al 1985, paulin
et al 1985 ) and decrease of fluidity ( coker et al 1985, mayak et al 1985 ) in
carnation. Singh and Moore (1992a) reported that in chrysenthmum, the wilting of florets
occured due to dual process of bacterial occlusion of xylem vessels as well as loss of functional
vessels due to air embolism ( Singh and Moore, 1992a ). In chrysenthmum , bacterial occlusion
of xylem vessels was found concentrated in the basal region of the stem and decreased in the
upper portion. No occlusion was observed beyond 10 cm portion of stem base ( Singh and
Moore 1992a).

After 15 days in vase, chrysenthmum stems e3exhibited decline in percentage of functional

vessels from 65 percent to 13 percent, thereby lead to decline in water uptake.Freshly cut stem
of chrysenthmum showed about 65 percent functional vessels which later decreased to 13
percent after 15 days in vase. The stem also showed decrease in stomatal conductance and
ability of stomata to close thereby failing to maintain required water status (Singh and Moore,
1992a).

Removal of leaves in roses and Carnation also reduced water loss by 78 and 60 percent,
respectively( Carpenter and Rasmussen, 1974).
 Durkin and Kuc (1966) showed that vascular blockage was the result of an oxidative process
induced from harvesting injury.

The vascular blockage and transpirational loss of water from the leaves are reported to create
air filled cavities in the conducting channels of the stem ( Put 1986, Zagory and Reid , 1986).Iin
cut roses(Dixon and Petersen,1988) and chrysenthmum( Meeteren, 1989, Singh and Moore,
1992a; Nijsse et al,2000; Singh et al, 2002 ) air embolism blocks xylem vessels and renders
them physiolgically inactive. Physiological stem plugging occuring due to a wound or injury is
reported to reduce water transport in the cut stem (Bhattacharjee 1994).

Xylem occlusion has also been reported by ethylene produced at the cut end of the stem as well
as wounding reaction that involves both peroxidase and catechol oxidase activity ( Fujino et al ,
1981; Vaslier and Van Doorn, 2003; Loubaud and Van Doorn , 2004).

Smith and Griffith reported that helianthus cut flowers, when harvested without keeping in
water exhibited wilting symptoms due to blockage by air, exduation of latex or mucilaginous
material from the cut end. An increase in cellulase activity paralled the decline in conductivity of
cut roses and application of cellulase decreased water uptake ( Mayak et al 1974 ).

Water deficit conditions are reported to cause physiological disorders in the cut stems such as
stem break in gerbera and bent neck of rose ( Halevy and Mayak 1981; Balestra et al, 2005 ).
Adverse water relations are also reported to cause changes in hormonal balance ( Van Doorn et
al , 1995 ). The reduction in bent neck and the increase in water conductivity in cut roses by a
small coloumn of ion exchange resin which caused removal of metabolites in the holding
water(Sacalis 1974).

Decline in conductivity, though a general phenomena in in many aging cut flowers, some cut
flowers such as tulips and narcissus do not show a reduction in water conductivity with time.

Presence of pollutants in the atmosphere and the excess of inorganic salts in vase water also
reported to shorten flower vase life ( Nowak and Rudnicki, 1990; Singh et al , 2001). Longevity
of carnation, rose and chrysenthmum was reduced by as low as 200 ppm of total dissolved
solutes (TDS ) where as salinity level higher than 700 ppm was required to reduce longevity of
gladiolus. In some other flowers however no relation was found between salinity and longevity
( Halevy and Mayak, 1981).

In cut Sonia or Frisco roses , when held dry for 3 hours and placed in water, the stomata
reopened and when held for 24 hours, remarkable closure due to accumulation of ABA and its
derivatives occured ( Aspinall, 1980 ). Increased day length to cut roses in vases increased
demonsteration that water loss and loss in turgidity due to disturbance in water relations
followed by early senescence.
In rose, additions of sucrose were shown to decrease the rate of transpiration, which is largely
attributed to stomatal closure ( Venkatarayappa et al, 1981 ). The water relations of the tissues
was also influenced by addition of inorganic ions such as aluminium ( Schnabl and Ziegler, 1974
) through reduction in transpiration as a result of decreasing stomatal conductance in cut rose
flowers.

Water uptake by the chrysenthmum varied with season and lignification of the stem( Marousky
1973). Stems harvested close to the soil level were more lignified and absorbed less water than
those cut higher on the plants. Addition of extracts from stem bases to holding solution also
reducedwater uptake by the chrysenthmum and gerberas (Marousky 1973, Buys 1979). Similar
mechanisms were also suggested in roses, lilies and mimosa(Buys 1969; Moe 1975). It was
suggested that some chemicals, mainly polyphenols, leach out of the stem bases and
submerged leaves into the holding water, and then are oxidized to quinones. These oxidative
products poison the cells and block the xylem vessels (Buys 1969, 1979).

The acidification of water and addition of a wetting agent greatly improved water uptake(Durkin
1981).

The water holding capacity of flowers change as they age(Van Meetern 1978b,1979b;Acock
and Nicholos1979). Changes in membrane properties of senescing petals include loss of
semipermeability leading to increased ion and water leakage, and termination of dessication of
tissue. Acock and Nicholos(1979) suggested that sugars ability to delay senescence of cut
carnation flowers is related to its ability to support cell metabolism and to maintain membrane
integrity.

In cut carnations, there was gradual decline in osmotic concentration with senescence(Acock
and Nicholos 1979; Mayak et al 1978). In cut gerberas the osmotic potential intially increased
and subsequently decreased. The effect of sugars on improving the water balance and delaying
wilting of cut flowerswas due to its contribution to osmotic pool(Halevy 1976). Some mineral
ions are also reported to increase the cellular osmotic concentration and delay flower
senescence(Halevy 1976; Mayak et al 1978; Van Meetern 1980).

Van Meetern emphasised importance of pressure potential to flower longeviy. Changes in

pressure potential of gerbera plant cells could induce increased membrane permeability and ion
leakage.