Cv. Cheers flowers were selected to test a pulse treatment with 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0mM salicylic acid (SA) for 15min at room tem- perature. The flowers were then stored at 4◦C. Dipping flowers in 1.0 and 1.5mM SA had no protective effect against CI (data not shown). Dipping in 2.0 mM SA alleviated CI symptoms (mainly spathe browning) in cv. Cheers (Fig. 5A).