Starch metabolism during petal senescence in Tagetes erecta L. cut flowers

Estimation of starch content, amylase activity and a-amylase activity was studied from first stage to senescent stage of Tagetes erecta L. flowers in cut conditions. The amount of starch had a decreasing trend with progressing stages. The amylolytic activities had an increasing trend initially but at senescent stage decrease in activity was observed. The increase in the activities of amylase suggests more breakdown of starch. The products of this starch breakdown could have been used up by the flower petals or might have been transported out of the ray florets.