Investigation into "bud blast" in the Easter lily (Lilium longiflorum Thunb)

Ethylene and carbohydrate deprivation were investigated as possible causes of bud abortion in Lilium longiflorum Thunb. Silver thiosulfate (STS) was investigated as an inhibitor of ethylene-induced abortion. Fourteen days of 92.5% irradiance reduction increased bud abortion when plants were exposed to 2.07 mM ethephon. Percent bud abortion was 39% and 60% for plants grown in full irradiance and reduced irradiance, respectively. Ethephon resulted in 54% abortion, regardless of irradiance at 4.15 mM. A 70% irradiance reduction for 14 days did not increase bud abortion when plants were treated with ethephon. STS was applied to plants at visible bud +2 weeks followed by ethephon application 2 days later. Bud abortion was reduced from 69 to 13% with 2 mM STS; the STS x ethephon interaction was significant. STS inhibited ethephon-induced bud abortion when applied at visible bud, 4 weeks prior to ethephon application; However, STS application at flower bud initiation did not prevent/reduce ethephon-induced bud abortion