Co-Authors:
Shaul, O., Department of Plant Pathology, ARO, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, 50250, Israel, Kennedy Leigh Center of Horticultural Research, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Faculty of Agriculture, P.O. Box 12, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
Elad, Y., Department of Plant Pathology, ARO, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, 50250, Israel
Zieslin, N., Kennedy Leigh Center of Horticultural Research, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Faculty of Agriculture, P.O. Box 12, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
Abstract:
The susceptibility of rose flowers (Rosa × hybrida cv. Mercedes) to Botrytis cinerea was affected by the age of the flowers after harvest at which they were inoculated. The development of Botrytis blight was suppressed by spraying flower buds with a 1-mM solution of GA3, although the effect of GA3 was limited by flower petal senescence. Application of GA3 either prior to or after conidial inoculation suppressed development of Botrytis blight. GA3 application suppressed Botrytis blight development even after the flowers were kept in cold-storage conditions. A hypothesis of a dual effect of GA3 in the suppression of Botrytis blight in cut rose flowers is proposed. Firstly, it may inhibit senescence-related malfunction of cell membranes. Secondly, GA3 may stimulate formation of endogenous compounds inhibiting Botrytis blight development in the petals. The possible use of gibberellins for control of Botrytis blight is discussed. © 1995.