Research Aims to Extend the Life of Valentine’s Day Flowers

By American Floral Endowment|January 27, 2026

As Valentine’s Day approaches, florists across the country are gearing up for one of the busiest weeks of the year. Behind every rose and carnation lies a challenge familiar to anyone in the floral industry: how to keep blooms fresher, longer. With research funding from the American Floral Endowment (AFE), Dr. Rasika Dias and his research team at the University of Texas at Arlington are working to tackle this issue. Their project focuses on counteracting ethylene, a naturally occurring plant hormone that accelerates aging and causes petals to wilt, buds to drop, and flowers to fade prematurely.

Why Ethylene Matters

Ethylene plays a vital role in plant growth and fruit ripening, but in the floral industry, it’s often the culprit behind short vase life. From the moment a flower is cut to its journey through transport, storage, and display, exposure to ethylene can dramatically reduce its shelf life. For high-demand holidays like Valentine’s Day, where timing and quality are everything, managing ethylene levels can make a major difference in both customer satisfaction and profitability.

Innovating Beyond Current Solutions

While commercial products like 1-methylcyclopropene (1MCP) and silver thiosulfate (STS) are already used to block ethylene’s effects, both have limitations such as handling complexity, cost, and environmental concerns. Dr. Dias’ team aims to overcome these challenges by developing new, user-friendly ethylene antagonists that are both effective and practical for everyday industry use. Over the past year, the team tested eight newly developed compounds on fresh-cut flowers in collaboration with a global floral company. Two of these compounds showed strong potential in protecting flowers from ethylene damage, paving the way for further testing and refinement. In parallel, the group has been synthesizing novel cyclopropene derivatives that can be delivered in solution form, which could be a significant improvement over current gas-based treatments.

Building Better Postharvest Tools

Looking ahead, Dr. Dias and his collaborators are continuing to explore new compounds that may hold the key to even more effective ethylene control. The team’s ongoing work also includes developing models and laboratory systems that mimic how plants interact with ethylene. This will allow the researchers to test potential anti-ethylene agents quickly and efficiently, accelerating discoveries that can benefit growers and retailers alike.

A Blooming Future for the Industry

American Floral Endowment’s investment in this research highlights its commitment to advancing practical, science-based solutions that directly benefit the floral supply chain. As new compounds move closer to commercialization, florists may soon have access to safer, simpler tools to keep flowers fresher.