The effects of sucrose and abscisic acid (ABA) and their interaction on development and senescence of petals were studied with leafless roses cultivar Super Star. Sucrose and ABA had opposing effects on the cut flowers. Sucrose retarded and ABA promoted processes associated with senescence: wilting, increase in pH, “blueing” and decrease in protein content of petals. These opposing effects are mutually antagonized when both chemicals are applied. ABA applied to flowers cut at the bud stage, promoted the rate of petal growth (but not their final size), increased respiration and caused a decrease in sucrose and an increase in level of reducing sugars. It is suggested that one way by which ABA accelerates senescence of cut roses is by promoting petal growth and respiration, thus decreasing the carbohydrate level in the petals and triggering the chain of metabolic processes leading to aging.
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Borochov et al. (1976) studied this question.
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