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African Journal of Agricultural Marketing ISSN 2375-1061 Vol. 8 (10), pp. 001-007, October, 2020. Available online at 
www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals 

 

Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. 
 
 
 

Full Length Research Paper 

 

Response of some ornamental flowers of family 
Ranunculaceae to sucrose feeding 

 
Waseem Shahri*, Inayatullah Tahir, Sheikh Tajamul Islam and Mushtaq Ahmad 

 
Department of Botany, Plant Physiology and Biochemistry Research Laboratory, University of Kashmir, 

Srinagar-190006, India. 
 

Accepted 10 July, 2020 
 

The effect of different concentrations of sucrose on some ornamental flowers of family Ranunculaceae 
was examined. Sucrose was found to enhance vase life in cut spikes of Aquilegia vulgaris and 
Consolida ajacis cv. Violet blue; besides it improves blooming, fresh and dry mass of flowers. A. 
vulgaris and C. ajacis exhibits abscission type of flower senescence, while senescence in Ranunculus 
asiaticus cultivars is characterized by initial wilting followed by abscission at later stage. In isolated 
flowers of R. asiaticus cultivars, sucrose was found to be ineffective in delaying senescence and 
improving post-harvest performance. The study reveals that sucrose treatment shows varied response 
in different flowers of the same family and its effect appears to be related to ethylene-sensitivity of these 
flower systems. The paper recommends that more elaborate studies need to be conducted on other 
ethylene-sensitive flowers to make a generalized argument on relationship between sucrose and 
ethylene sensitivity. 

 
Key words: Aquilegia vulgaris, Consolida ajacis, Ranunculus asiaticus, abscission, wilting, sucrose, vase life, 

fresh mass, dry mass, senescence, Ranunculaceae. 

 
INTRODUCTION 

 
As long as a flowering shoot or an inflorescence is 
attached to a mother plant, nutrients are continuously 
supplied leading to normal development. After it is 
detached from the plant, the supply of nutrients is cut off 
and the physiological processes leading to senescence 
are hastened (Halevy and Mayak, 1979). Improvement in 
the post harvest life of flowers by sugar loading has been 
demonstrated in a number of ethylene-sensitive flower 
systems (Mayak and Dilley, 1976; Monteiro et al., 2002; 
Pun and Ichimura, 2003; Verlinden and Vicente Garcia, 
2004; Van Doorn, 2004). Very little is known about the 
role of sugars in ethylene-insensitive flower senescence 
(Eason et al., 2002). Among the different types of sugars, 
sucrose has been found to be the most commonly used 
sugar in prolonging vase life of cut flowers and the 
exogenous application of sucrose supplies the flowers 
with much needed substrates for respiration and does not 
only prolongs vase life, but enables cut flowers harvested  
 
 
 
*Corresponding author. E-mail: waseem.bot@gmail.com. 

 
 
 
 
at the bud stage to open, which otherwise could not occur 
naturally (Pun and Ichimura, 2003). Azad et al. (2008) 
has recently demonstrated that it is the intercellular 
energy depletion which serves as an early signal to 
trigger PCD in tulips (both cut and uncut).  

Aquilegia vulgaris (white columbine) produces beautiful 
spikes with creamy white long–spurred flowers. The 
flowers possess five petals like sepals, five true petals, 
five pistils and numerous stamens. It is commonly 
cultivated as a landscape plant and as cut flower. 
Consolida ajacis (Ranunculaceae) commonly called 
“Rocket larkspur” possesses blue to violet flowers borne 
on long erect spikes (40 - 50 cm) in racemes. Ranunculus 
asiaticus cv. Red commonly known as „butter cup‟ 
possesses dark red terminal flowers with a cluster of 
brownish anthers at centre surrounding the carpel. R. 
asiaticus hybrid possesses pinkish-yellow terminal 
flowers with a cluster of black or brownish anthers at 
centre surrounding the carpel. The present study was 
conducted to study the effects of different concentrations 
of sucrose on some ornamental flowers of family 
Ranunculaceae with the aim to enhance their vase life 

file:///C:\Users\user\Documents\REPUBLICATION\AGRICULTURAL%20SCIENCES\AppData\Local\Temp\www.internationalscholarsjournals.org


 
 
 

 
Table 1. Effect of different concentrations of sucrose on vase life of some ornamental flowers of family Ranunculaceae.  

 

Plant species 
 Different concentrations of sucrose  

 

DW (control) 0.05 M 0.1 M 0.15 M 0.2 M LSD at P0.05  

 
 

Aquilegia vulgaris 5.0 8.5 6.0 4.0 - 0.35 
 

C. ajacis cv. violet blue 6.8 7.2 8.5 9.3 10.6 0.44 
 

R. asiaticus cv. Red 5.3 4.5 4.3 4.0 4.0 0.32 
 

R. asiaticus hybrid 7.3 5.5 3.0 3.0 2.0 0.24 
 

 
Each value is a mean of 10 independent replicates. 

 
 

 
Table 2. Effect of different concentrations of sucrose on blooming in cut spikes of A. vulgaris and C. ajacis cv. Violet blue at day 6 

(D6) of transfer to holding solutions.  
 

 
Plant species 

 Different concentrations of sucrose   
 

 
DW (control) 0.05 M 0.1 M 0.15 M 0.2 M LSD at P0.05  

  
 

 A. vulgaris 4.0 (57.2) 6.0 (85.7) 5.0 (71.4) 2.5(35.7) - 0.72 
 

 C. ajacis 13.3(86.3) 14.3 (100) 15.0 (100) 15.0 (100) 16.6(100) 0.84 
  

Each value is a mean of 10 independent replicates. Figures in parentheses represent percent blooms. 
 
 

 

and to demonstrate its potential in delaying senescence 

in ethylene-insensitive members. 
 
 
MATERIALS AND METHODS 
 
Spikes of C. ajacis cv. violet blue, A. vulgaris, isolated flowers of R. 
asiaticus cv. red and R. asiaticus hybrid growing in the open at the 
University Botanic Garden were used for the study. In case of C. 
ajacis and A. vulgaris, the spikes were harvested at 1 - 2 floret open 
stage, while in case of R. asiaticus cultivars; the flowers were 
harvested at half -open stage. The harvested spikes and flowers 
were immediately brought to the laboratory, defoliated and cut to a 
uniform size of 35 cm in C. ajacis, 30 cm in A. vulgaris and 15 cm in 
R. asiaticus cultivars. In each case, the harvested material was 
transferred to Ehrlenmeyer flasks containing different concen-
trations (0.05 - 0.20 M) of sucrose. A separate set of spikes or 
flowers were transferred to flasks containing distilled water (DW), 
which represented respective controls. Each treatment was 
represented by 10 replicates (flasks) with each flask containing one 
spike or flower. Treatment effects were evaluated by keeping the 
samples in the laboratory at a temperature of 22 ± 2°C in case of C. 
ajacis and 15 ± 2°C in case of A. vulgaris and R. asiaticus cultivars, 
under cool white fluorescent light with a mix of diffused natural light 

(10 W m – 2
) 12 h a day and RH of 60 ± 10%. The day of harvest 

was designated as day zero.  
The average vase life of spikes was counted from the day of 

harvest and was assessed to be terminated when approximately 
70% florets senesced on each spike. The average vase life of the 
Ranunculus flowers was counted from the day of transfer of spikes 
to holding solutions and was assessed to be terminated when the 
flowers lost their ornamental/display value (underwent colour 
change; wilt and loose turgidity).The experiment was maintained till 
the vase life in the last set of spikes/flowers was regarded to be 
terminated. In case of C. ajacis and A. vulgaris, number of blooms 
per spike was recorded at regular intervals till maximum number of 
buds bloomed in a particular treatment including control. Total 
number of buds on each spike was also counted to express the 
data on percentage basis. Fresh and dry mass of the flowers was 

 
 
 

 
also determined. Dry mass was determined by drying the material 
in an oven for 48 h at 70°C. The data has been analyzed 
statistically with SD and LSD computed at P0.05 using MINITAB (v 
15. 1.2-EQUINOX_Softddl.net) software. 
 

 

RESULTS 
 
A. vulgaris 
 
A. vulgaris exhibited abscission type of flower 
senescence wherein the petaloid sepals as well as petals 
abscised without any significant loss of turgidity (wilting), 
leaving behind a group of 5 carpels surrounded by a 
multitude of stamens with withered anthers. The carpels 
registered a sharp increase in their dimensions 
immediately after abscission of sepals and petals and 
develop into five distinct follicles per flower. Feeding the 
spikes of C. ajacis with sucrose at 0.05 and 0.1 M 
enhanced their vase life by an increment of 1 - 4 days as 
compared to control (Table 1). Reduction in vase life was  
registered when sucrose was supplied at 0.15 M 
concentration. A higher fresh and dry mass was 
maintained in flowers from spikes fed with 0.05 M 
sucrose as compared to controls and also spikes 
supplied with higher concentrations of sucrose (Figures 1 
and 2). Sucrose feeding of spikes at 0.05 and 0.1 M 
concentrations improved the rate of blooming as 
compared to controls (Table 2). 
 

 

C. ajacis cv. violet blue 
 
C. ajacis also exhibited abscission type of flower 

senescence wherein the petaloid sepals and petals 



  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Figure 1. Effect of different concentrations of sucrose on fresh mass of flowers of 

A. vulgaris at day 2, 4 and 6 of transfer.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Figure 2. Effect of different concentrations of sucrose on dry mass of flowers of A.  
vulgaris at day 2, 4 and 6 of transfer. 

 
 

 

abscise leaving behind a single carpel and a multitude of 
stamens with withered anthers. The single carpel 
registered a sharp increase in its dimensions as the other 
floral parts abscise, and finally developed into follicle. In 
C. ajacis, the sepals become papery and develop curvy 
margins immediately before they abscise. Sucrose 
feeding of cut spikes enhanced vase life as compared to 
controls (Table 1) . Maximum vase life was reported in 
spikes transferred to 0.2 M sucrose solution, which was 3 
days ahead of spikes transferred to distilled water. Fresh 
and dry mass of flowers increased with an increase in the 
concentration of sucrose. Samples from spikes supplied 
with 0.15 and 0.2 M sucrose resulted in higher fresh and 
dry mass as compared to samples from spikes supplied 

 
 
 

 

with lower concentrations (0.01 and 0.05 M) of sucrose 
(Figures 3 and 4). Sucrose feeding improved rate of 
blooming. 100% blooming was achieved in about 6 days 
in case of spikes supplied with different concentrations of 
sucrose as compared to controls, which achieved only 
85% blooming (Table 2). 
 

 

R. asiaticus cv. red 

 

The initial symptom of petal senescence was wilting, 

followed by abscission at the later stage. The petals 
underwent a typical colour change from dark red to brick 

red with a loss of turgidity and lusture. Flowers underwent 



  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Figure 3. Effect of different concentrations of sucrose on fresh mass of flowers of 

C. ajacis at day 2, 4 and 6 of transfer.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Figure 4. Effect of different concentrations of sucrose on dry mass of flowers of C.  
ajacis at day 2, 4 and 6 of transfer. 

 
 

 

structural disorganization and finally the petals abscised. 
Sepals abscised much later than petals and stamens. 
Feeding the flowers with different concentrations of 
sucrose did not improve their vase life. Vase life 
registered a decrease with an increase in sucrose 
concentration. Maximum vase life was recorded in 
flowers transferred to distilled water (Table 1). Sucrose 
fed flowers at 0.05 and 0.1 M concentrations registered 
an increase in fresh and dry mass as compared to 

 
 
 

 

controls. However, a reduction in fresh and dry mass was 

observed in flowers supplied with 0.15 and 0.2 M sucrose 

(Figures 5 and 6). 
 

 

R. asiaticus hybrid 

 

The initial symptom of petal senescence was wilting, 

followed by abscission at the later stage. The petals lost 



  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Figure 5. Effect of different concentrations of sucrose on fresh mass of flowers of 

R. asiaticus cv. red at day 2, 4 and 6 of transfer.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Figure 6. Effect of different concentrations of sucrose on dry mass of flowers of R.  
asiaticus cv. Red at day 2, 4 and 6 of transfer. 

 
 

 

turgidity and lusture. Flowers underwent structural 
disorganization and finally the petals abscised. Sepal 
abscised much later than petals and stamens. Feeding 
the flowers with different concentrations of sucrose did 
not improve their vase life. Vase life registered a 
decrease with the increase in sucrose concentration. A 

 
 
 

 

drastic reduction in vase life was recorded in flowers 
supplied with higher concentrations of sucrose (Table 1). 
Maximum vase life was recorded in flowers transferred to 
distilled water. Sucrose fed flowers registered a general 
decrease in fresh and dry mass as compared to controls 
(Figures 7 and 8). 



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Figure 7. Effect of different concentrations of sucrose on fresh mass of flowers of R.  
asiaticus hybrid at day 2, 4 and 6 of transfer.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Figure 8. Effect of different concentrations of sucrose on dry mass of flowers of R. 
asiaticus hybrid at day 2, 4 and 6 of transfer. 

 
 

 

DISCUSSION 

 

The results of our experiments suggest that sucrose at 
0.05 and 0.2 M significantly enhanced vase life of cut 
spikes of A. vulgaris and C. ajacis, respectively, while it 
was found ineffective in enhancing vase life of cut R. 
asiaticus cultivars. Ethylene sensitivity in A. vulgaris is not 
known yet, but C. ajacis has been found to be ethylene-

sensitive (Finger, 2001; Dole et al., 2005), while 

 
 
 

 

R. asiaticus cultivars (Kenza et al., 2000; Dole et al., 

2005) as ethylene-insensitive. The beneficial effect of 
sugars on flower senescence has been attributed to the 
supply of substrates for respiration, structural materials 
and osmoticum (Halevy and Mayak, 1979), and has been 
attributed to the suppression of ethylene biosynthesis or 
sensitivity to ethylene (Ichimura and Hisamatsu, 1999; 
Ichimura and Suto, 1999; Ichimura et al., 2000; Liao et 
al., 2000; Pun and Ichimura, 2003). It suggests the 



 
 
 

 

existence of some relationships between sucrose and 
ethylene production during flower senescence. 
Exogenous sugars have been found to delay visible 
senescence in flowers with ethylene-sensitive petal 
senescence, but having only a small or no effect in 
flowers with ethylene-insensitive petal senescence (van 
Doorn and Stead, 1994; van Doorn, 2004) . Sugars have 
been found to delay the increase in mRNA abundance of 
a number of senescence-associated genes (Eason et al., 
2002; Hoeberichts et al., 2007). It may therefore be, 
suggested that lack of ethylene-sensitivity of R. asiaticus 
cultivars may be one of the factors contributing to the 
ineffectivity of sucrose in delaying their senescence and 
improving postharvest life. In case of A. vulgaris and C. 
ajacis spikes, sucrose feeding maintained higher fresh 

and dry mass of flowers as compared to controls. It is 
suggested that sucrose induces the closure of stomata, 
eventually reducing the loss of water, thereby, reducing 
transpiration and maintaining the fresh mass (Marousky, 
1969; Chen et al., 2001). Maintenance of dry mass of 
flowers could be also due to lower respiratory losses as 
sucrose has been found to suppress respiration in certain 
plant tissues by delaying climacteric rise in ethylene 
biosynthesis (Dilley and Carpenter, 1975; Ichimura and 
Suto, 1999; Zhang and Leung, 2001; Ichimura et al., 
2000). Spikes of A. vulgaris and C. ajacis fed with 
sucrose showed an improvement in rate of blooming by 
promoting opening of immature buds.  

The study reveals that sugar status is one of the factors 
responsible for shorter vase life of A. vulgaris and C. 
ajacis spikes, while in R. asiaticus cultivars, other factors 

might be involved. Although the study is of preliminary 
nature, it is important in the context that little information 
is available regarding the use of sucrose in ethylene-
insensitive flower systems. The study also suggests that 
more elaborate studies need to be conducted on other 
ethylene-sensitive flowers to make a generalized 
argument on relationship between sucrose and ethylene 
sensitivity. 
 

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

 

The Authors thank Prof. G.H Dar, Head Department of 
Botany for providing necessary facilities and Dr. A.Q. 
John, Professor Emeritus SKAUST, Kashmir for cultivar 
identification. Waseem Shahri thanked the University 
Grants Commission (UGC, India) for providing Junior 
research fellowship. Sheikh Tajamul and Mushtaq Ahmad 
thanked the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research 
(CSIR, India) for providing research scholarship. 
 

 
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