Exposing cut flowers to specific wavelengths of light might be useful for controlling flower opening

Many flowers including rose open in a rhythmic fashion during specific times of the day. To clarify the relationship between the diurnal rhythm of cut flower opening and perception of light, effects of red and blue light on rhythmic opening of cut rose flower were studied using time-lapse cinematography. Cut rose flower exposed to a 12-h light/12-h darkness photoperiod by white light (fluorescent light) showed rhythmic opening, starting shortly before the light period had begun and lasting a few hours, even when their leaves were removed. The petal and/or sepal seem to be the sites of photo-perception. Rhythmic opening was also observed when cut flowers were exposed to red and blue light. These results suggest that cut rose flower without leaves can perceive red and blue light, and synchronize its opening to a photoperiod. Furthermore, effects of light exposure on flower opening differed among white, red and blue light. When cut flowers were held in constant darkness, they opened little although they showed rhythmic opening. The speed of flower opening was delayed in cut flowers exposed to red and blue light compared with thoseexposed to white light. In conclusion, we presume that exposing cut flowers to specific wavelengths of light might be useful for controlling flower opening. ? SourcesEFFECTS OF RED AND BLUE LIGHT ON RHYTHMIC OPENING OF CUT ROSE FLOWERYamada, K1, Horibe, T1, Sanda, K1yamakuni@isc.chubu.ac.jp1Chubu University, Kasugai, JapanIHC 2014, International Horticulture Congress, 17-22 August 2014, Brisbane, http://www.ihc2014.org/Picture by www.freepik.es