Effects of Gibberellic Acid and Naphthaleneacetic Acid on Petiole Senescence and Subtended Peduncle Growth of Cyclamen persicum Mill

Removal of the blade from the leaf subtending the first flower bud on Cyclamen persicum ‘Swan Lake’ plants caused the petiole of that leaf to senesce, but had no effect on the growth of the flower peduncle in the debladed petiole's axil. A 10 mg NAA l−1 application generally had no effect on petiole senescence, peduncle elongation or flowering date when applied to the cut end of the petiole after blade removal. A 25 mg GA3 l−1 application or a combination of 25 mg GA3 l−1 application or a combination of 25 mg GA3 l−1 plus 10 mg NAA l−1 delayed petiole senescence and enhanced peduncle elongation and subsequent flowering. No treatment significantly altered peduncle length at the time of flowering.