ISHS Acta Horticulturae 167: II Symposium on Growth Regulators in Floriculture
BUD AND FLOWER DROP IN BEGONIA - ELATIOR 'SIRENE' CAUSED BY ETHYLENE AND DARKNESS |
| Author: | L. Høyer |
| Abstract:
Pot plants generate ethylene and can be exposed to ethylene from other sources, for example during transport. Nevertheless, the response of pot plants to ethylene is comparatively unknown. Therefore, the keeping quality of Begonia-elatior 'Sirene' has been investigated to demonstrate the result of ethylene concentration and exposure time. Flowering plants were placed in darkness for 72 hours at 18°C. During the darkness the plants were exposed to ethylene-free air for 72 hours or 0.05, 0.1, 1.0, or 5.0 μl ethylene 1-1 air for 24 or 72 hours. Afterwards the plants were placed in an interior environment for 12 days in order to observe the long-term effect of ethylene. Darkness without ethylene for 72 hours did not injure buds, flowers or leaves, but during the treatment with ethylene there was a drop of buds and flowers which was dependent on ethylene concentration and exposure time. The flowers were most sensitive and compared with darkness without ethylene there was a considerable flower drop by all ethylene concentrations when the plants were exposed for 72 hours. After 24 hours exposure the injury started from 0.1 μl 1-1. Ethylene did not influence the number of leaves or injured them in other ways. Market value of the plants was considerably reduced by 72 hours exposure, and by 24 hours exposure the market value was reduced at ethylene concentrations of 1.0 and 5.0 μl 1-1. | |
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