What gas, naturally occurring in flowers, speeds maturity and causes rapid deterioration of cut flowers?

Ethylene gas is a plant hormone that plays a significant role in the ripening process of fruits and flowers. It is produced naturally by many plants, including cut flowers, and serves as a signaling molecule that regulates various aspects of growth and development. One of the critical functions of ethylene is its ability to speed up maturity and aging processes, which can lead to a rapid deterioration of cut flowers. When cut flowers are exposed to ethylene, they may show symptoms such as wilting, yellowing leaves, and a shortened vase life.

In the context of floral design and arrangement, it's important to manage ethylene exposure to maintain the quality and longevity of cut flowers. This can involve proper storage conditions, such as keeping flowers away from ripening fruits that release ethylene, as well as using special floral preservatives designed to mitigate the effects of this gas.

Other gases, such as carbon dioxide, oxygen, and nitrogen, play different roles in plant physiology but do not induce the same effects on flower maturity and deterioration as ethylene does. Carbon dioxide can impact a plant's respiration, while nitrogen and oxygen are critical for processes like photosynthesis and respiration, respectively, but they do not possess the same direct influence on the aging process of cut flowers as ethylene