SILVER THIOSULFATE CAN TO SOME EXTENT PREVENT LEAF, BUD AND FLOWER DROP IN HIBISCUS ROSA-SINENSIS CAUSED BY ETHYLENE AND DARKNESS

A transport simulation experiment consisted of two fundamental treatments: Darkness for 72 hours at 21°C without applied ethylene and darkness for 72 hours at 21°C with 1.1 μ 1 ethylene 1^-1. The STS treatments comprised spraying with 0.45 and 4.05 mM 1, 11, or 21 days before the start of the transport simulation. The ethylene concentration of 1.1 μ 1 1^-1 on untreated plants caused a total bud and flower drop and a smaller leaf drop. The treatments with STS could to some extent prevent the drop of buds but the remaining buds became yellow and did not develop into flowers or the flowers became discoloured and deformed. When the plants were exposed to an ethylene concentration of 1.1 μ 1 1^-1 the most effective STS concentration was 4.05 mM sprayed 11 days before the transport simulation. The treatment with darkness without ethylene showed that the plants had a poor keeping quality. Spraying with 0.45 and 4.05 mM STS 11 days before the transport simulation without ethylene improved the keeping quality considerably.

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