The durability and postharvest quality of cut flowers are fundamental attributes in value along the production chain and in consumer satisfaction. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of chemical inhibitors of ethylene action on maintaining the postharvest quality of chrysanthemum stems (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat cv. Dragon). The experiment tested maintenance solutions with silver thiosulfate (STS) under five levels (distilled water, a 0.2 mM STS, the STS 0.2 mM + sucrose at 50 g L-1, STS at 0.4 mM; STS at 0.4 mM + sucrose at 50 g L-1), and date of sampling, for three levels (0, 3, 6 days). Three replications with two flower stems in each treatment were used in the experiment. Physical assessments were made: color, fresh mass and relative water content; chemical evaluations: reducing sugars and pigments, and qualitative assessments: turgidity, flower color, and number of buds, open flowers and partially open flowers. Treatment with 0.2 mM STS resulted in better maintenance of fresh mass of stems. The concentration of pigments and reducing sugar was higher in those treatments in which sucrose was associated. The color and relative water content were favored in treatments STS 0.2 mM and 0.4 mM. The concentration of 0.2 mM STS obtained the best results, prolonging the vase life the stems. The quality of these stems was higher, with the best assessments of water content, color and turgidity.34511841190Almeida, E.F.A., de Paiva, P.D.O., de Lima, L.C.O., Resende, M.L., Fonseca, J., Tavares, T.S., Póscolheita de copo-de-leite: Efeito de diferentes Póscolheita de copo-de-leite: Efeito de diferentes conservantes comerciais e armazenamento a frio (2008) Ciência e Agrotecnologia, 32 (4), pp. 1189-1194. , Lavras, Jul./agoLavrasBarbosa, J.G., Tavares, A.R.R., Finger, F.L., de Leite, R.A., Vida de prateleira de minicrisântemos em vaso tratados com tiossulfato de prata (2005) Bragantia, 4, p. 64. , CampinasBorochov, A., Mayak, S., Broun, R., The involvement of water stress and ethylene in senescence of cut carnations flowers (1982) Journal of Experimental Botany, 33 (137), pp. 1202-1209. , LondonBurzo, I., Dobrescu, A., The exchange of substances between some cut flowers and solutions during vase life (1995) Acta Horticulturae, 405, pp. 101-107. , AmsterdamChantrachit, T., (1999) Postharvest Physiology of Red Ginger Inflorescence (Alpinia Purpurata (VIEILL) K. Schum, , Doctor of Philosophy in Horticulturae-University of Hawaii, Hawaii, 1999Finger, F.L., Carneiro, T.F., Barbosa, J.G., Senescência pós-colheita de inflorescências de esporinha (Consolida ajacis (2004) Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira, 39, pp. 533-537. , BrasíliaFrancis, F.J., Analysis of anthocyanins (1982) Anthocyanins As Food Colors, pp. 182-205. , MARKAKIS,P.(Ed.),New York: AcademicHalevy, A.H., Treatments to improve water balance of cut flowers (1976) Acta Horticulturae, 64, pp. 223-230. , AmsterdamHalevy, A.H., Mayak, S., Improved of cut flower quality opening and longevity by pre-shipment treatments (1974) Acta Horticulturae, 43, pp. 335-347. , AmsterdamHassan, F., Schmidt, G., Postharvest characteristics of cut carnations as the result of chemical treatments (2005) Acta Agronomica Hungarica, 52 (2), pp. 125-132. , Akadémiai KiadóHonda, S., Nishimura, Y., Takahashi, M., Chiba, H., Kakehi, K., A manual method for spectrophotometric determination of reducing carbohydrates with 2-cyanoacetaminde (1982) Annals of Chemistry, 119, pp. 194-199. , New YorkKramer, P.J., (1983) Water Relations of Plants, p. 489. , New York: AcademicLiao, L.J., Postharvest life of cut rose flowers as affected by silver thiosulphate and sucrose (2000) Botanical Bulletin of Academic Sinica, 41, pp. 299-303. , LondonMayak, S., Senescence of cut flowers (1987) HortScience, 22 (5), pp. 863-868. , AmsterdamColor control from feeling to instrumentation (1994) Precise Color Communication, p. 49. , MINOLTA, TokyoMoraes, P.J., Cecon, P.R., Finger, F.L., Barbosa, J.G., Alvares, V.S., Efeito da refrigeração e do condicionamento com sacarose sobre a longevidade de inflorescências de Strelitzia reginae Ait (1999) Revista Brasileira De Horticultura Ornamental, 5 (2), pp. 151-156. , CampinasNowak, J., Goszczynska, M.D., Rudnicki, R.M., Storage of cut flowers and ornamental plants: Present status and future prospects (1991) Research Institute of Pomology and Floriculture, 2 (4), pp. 255-260. , Postharvest News and InformationPaulin, A., Influence of exogenous sugar on the evolution of some senescence petals (1986) Acta Horticulturae, 181, pp. 183-193. , AmsterdamVenn, H., Effects of silver salts on the ethylene production and respiration of cut carnations (1979) Acta Horticulturae, 91, pp. 99-103. , Amsterdam