If the results of Goh et al. (1985) are also
complicated by water stress, they become more
easily comprehensible. Contrary to expectation,
since petal senescence in orchids generally is highly
ethylene sensitive, Goh et al. (1985) observed
ethylene-insensitive petal wilting in Dendrobium.
The absence of an effect of ethylene or ethylene
inhibitors may be explained by an overriding effect
of water stress.