ISHS Acta Horticulturae 405: VI International Symposium on Postharvest Physiology of Ornamental Plants
THE SENSIVITY OF SOME FLOWERING POTTED PLANTS TO EXOGENOUS ETHYLENE |
| Authors: | K. Willumsen, T. Fjeld |
| Keywords: | Potted plants, Ethylene, Quality, Keepability |
| Abstract:
The effect of exogenous ethylene on postharvest quality and keepability of ten species of flowering potted plants was investigated by exposing the plants to 0.0 (control), 0.01, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1 or 1.0 μl l-1 ethylene for 96 h in darkness at 20°C. In addition, one of the species was exposed to 0.0 (control) or 0.05 μl l-1 ethylene for 12, 24, 48 or 96 hours at 16°C or 22°C in light (41 μmol m-2 s-1 PAR for 24 h) or darkness. The quality of the plants was evaluated soon after ethylene exposure. Keepability was evaluated in a simulated interior environment (20°C, 40–50 % RH, 13.5 μmol m-2 s-1 PAR for 12 h). Catharanthus roseus, a white cv., Pelargonium x hortorum ‘Mars’, Fuchsia x hybrida ‘Beacon’, Begonia x hiemalis ‘Christel’, and Campanula isophylla ‘Blue’ were the most ethylene sensitive plants, and they reacted negatively to 0.01 μl 1-1 ethylene. Cyclamen persicum was the least sensitive. 1.0 μl 1-1 ethylene was required to influence quality in this species. The threshold ethylene concentration for negative effects on quality and keepability in Saintpaulia ionantha and Primula vulgaris (Dania F1) was 0.05 μl 1-1. In Calceolaria x herbeohybrida and Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Charme’ 0.1 μl 1-1 of ethylene was required to influence postharvest quality. The effect of ethylene was closely related to exposure period in Campanula. | |
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