The postharvest quality of many flowering
plants is reduced by ethylene. Ethylene causes
premature wilting, color fading and abscission
of flower petals. Ethylene induced senescence
and abscission can result from exposure to
exogenous ethylene during shipping or increased
endogenous ethylene production by
the flower resulting from stress, wounding,
pollination, or infection (Abeles et al., 1992).