Table 2 Flower responses to ethylene exposure in C. medium, C. formanekiana and C. formanekiana × C. medium hybrids. Plants were exposed to concentrations of 0 or 5 μl · L⁻¹ ethylene for 72 h. Flower responses were grouped in three categories (no senescence, signs of senescence and complete senescence). Data are in % and presented as means ± SE (n = 2, except Cm line 1; n = 4). Values with same letters within treatments in same response are not significantly different (P > 0.05)

0 μl · L⁻¹ ethylene, 72 h

C. formanekiana

87 ± 4.7 ^a

13 ± 4.7^d

0.0 ± 0.0^a

C. medium line 1¹

3.3 ± 2.9^d

97 ± 2.9 ^a

0.0 ± 0.0^a

C. medium line 2¹

53 ± 19 ^ab

47 ± 19^cd

0.0 ± 0.0 ^a

Hybrid A

53 ± 0.0 ^ab

47 ± 0.0^cd

0.0 ± 0.0 ^a

Hybrid B

17 ± 2.4^bcd

83 ± 2.4 ^ab

0.0 ± 0.0 ^a

Hybrid C

40 ± 4.7^bc

60 ± 4.7^bc

0.0 ± 0.0 ^a

Hybrid D

10 ± 7.1^cd

90 ± 7.1 ^ab

0.0 ± 0.0 ^a

Hybrid E

3.3 ± 2.4^cd

97 ± 2.4 ^ab

0.0 ± 0.0 ^a

5 μl · L⁻¹ ethylene, 72 h

C. formanekiana

0.0 ± 0.0 ^a

0.0 ± 0.0^c

100 ± 0.0 ^a

C. medium line 1¹

0.0 ± 0.0 ^a

95 ± 4.3 ^a

5.0 ± 4.3^c

C. medium line 2¹

0.0 ± 0.0 ^a

100 ± 0.0 ^a

0.0 ± 0.0^c

Hybrid A

0.0 ± 0.0 ^a

13 ± 9.4^c

87 ± 9.4 ^a

Hybrid B

0.0 ± 0.0 ^a

3.3 ± 2.4^c

97 ± 2.4 ^a

Hybrid C

0.0 ± 0.0 ^a

0.0 ± 0.0^c

100 ± 0.0 ^a

Hybrid D

0.0 ± 0.0 ^a

10 ± 7.1^c

90 ± 7.1 ^a

Hybrid E

0.0 ± 0.0 ^a

43 ± 7.1^b

57 ± 7.1^b