Adenine type and diphenyl urea derived cytokinins improve the postharvest performance of L. cut scapes.

An experiment was designed to evaluate the effect of various adenine derived cytokinins (kinetin and 6-benzylaminopurine) and diphenyl urea cytokinin (thidiazuron) on the postharvest performance of cut scapes of . Flower scapes were harvested with the oldest bud at '1 day before anthesis stage', brought to laboratory under water, cut to a uniform length of 35 cm, divided into three sets viz., kinetin (KIN), 6-benzyl aminopurine (BAP) and thidiazuron (TDZ).

Increased oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation and protein degradation trigger senescence in L. flowers.

Dynamics in various physiological and biochemical aspects were studied during various stages (I-tight bud stage to VI-senescent stage) of flower development in . Floral diameter, fresh & dry mass and water content increased during flower opening and decreased towards senescence. Senescence was found to be related to the increased lipid peroxidation which was reflected in the decreased membrane stability index towards senescence.