ISHS Acta Horticulturae 669: VIII International Symposium on Postharvest Physiology of Ornamental Plants
EFFICIENCY OF 1-MCP IN NEUTRALIZING ETHYLENE EFFECTS IN CUT FLOWERS AND POTTED PLANTS FOLLOWING SIMULTANEOUS OR SEQUENTIAL APPLICATION |
| Authors: | S. Philosoph-Hadas, O. Golan, I. Rosenberger, S. Salim, B. Kochanek, S. Meir |
| Keywords: | silver thiosulfate, temperature application, carnations, Limonium hybrid 'Beltlaard', roses, Cymbidium orchids, Ficus 'Green Island' |
| Abstract:
We studied application of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) in various ornamentals, with the aim of finding optimum application temperature, dose, and duration. We also studied its competition with ethylene, and its synergistic effect with silver thiosulfate (STS). Ethylene (5 μl l-1) was simultaneously applied with 1-MCP (15 or 150 nl l-1) at 4, 12 or 20ºC to carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus cv. ‘Yellow Candy’). At these application temperatures ethylene negatively affected flower quality. 1-MCP applied at 15 nl l-1 neutralized the adverse ethylene effects when applied at 4ºC, but not at 12 or 20ºC. However, when applied at 150 nl, l-1 1-MCP successfully eliminated ethylene effects at all temperatures. It seems, therefore, that 1-MCP is a better competitor with ethylene at low temperatures. 1-MCP pre-treatment (0.2-1 μl l-1/2-20 h), followed by a subsequent exposure to ethylene (1-5 μl l-1/24 h/20ºC or 0.5 μl l-1/12 days/12ºC), significantly improved the quality of cut flowers (carnations cv. ‘Yellow Goldy’, Cymbidium orchids) and potted plants (Ficus ‘Green island’), respectively. In Limonium hybrid ‘Beltlaard’ cut flowers the combined use of 1-MCP and STS resulted in highest quality. This combined treatment also enabled storage under sea transport conditions (8 days at 2ºC). When applied alone, 1-MCP (0.4 μl l-1/4 h) was also very effective in improving flower opening and the length of vase life in several rose cultivars. The results suggest that 1-MCP may be very useful in preserving quality of various ornamentals and that it protects against ethylene effects. | |
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