Effect of Ethylene Antagonist Silver Thiosulphate on the Flower Longevity of Clarkia pulchella Pursh.

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of different concentrations of silver thiosulphate (STS) on flower longevity of Clarkia pulchella Pursh. The buds were subjected to 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1 mM of STS for 1 h pulse treatment. A separate set of flowers kept in distilled water was designated the control group. STS treatment resulted in improved flower longevity besides maintaining higher fresh and dry mass, water content and floral diameter. Conversely, total phenols, lipid peroxidation and lipoxygenase (LOX) activity decreased. The flowers treated with STS showed a significant increase in the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). Amongst various grades used, 0.5 mM STS was found to be most effective in enhancing the flower longevity by 1.5 days. The present study reveals that STS maintains lower LOX activity, thereby increased membrane stability index by improving the activity of antioxidant enzymes.