Abstract: A laboratory experiment was conducted to determine the effects of ethylene and anti-ethylene treatments on the postharvest life of cut rose cv. First Red flowers. The treatments comprised: exogenous ethylene applied at 1, 10 and 100 micro l/litre for 48 h at 22 degrees C. Ethylene at different concentrations reduced postharvest life, with 100 micro l/litre having the greatest effect. Ethylene production measurements suggested that First Red is climacteric during senescence. Pre-treatment of First Red flowers with 0.5 mM silver thiosulfate (STS) for 2 h at 22 degrees C increased vase life, but pre-treatment with 1 micro l/litre 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) did not. Pre-treatment of First Red with 0.5 mM STS and, to a lesser extent, 1 micro l/litre 1-MCP for 2 h at 22 degrees C, protected flowers from subsequent exposure to 10 micro l/litre ethylene. Maximum vase life in both ethylene-treated and non-ethylene-treated First Red flowers was obtained with 0.5 mM STS.
