Authors
Kim, H.; Craig, R.; Brown, K.M.
Source
Postharvest Biology and Technology, Volume 45, Issue 1, p.66-72 (2007)
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External links:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925521407000257
Abstract
Ethylene-induced petal abscission is a significant problem in Regal Pelargonium (Pelargonium x domesticum L.H. Bailey) during commercial shipping and handling. We previously demonstrated that the Penn State genotypes 'Elegance Silver', and its two progeny, 00-43-1 and 00-43-2, have greater floret longevity and exhibit less sensitivity to ethylene than a range of commercial genotypes. These experiments were conducted to compare the postproduction quality of Penn State genotypes with commercial cultivars following pretreatment with the ethylene action inhibitor, 1-methycyclopropene (1-MCP). Pretreatment with 1-MCP protected florets from petal abscission in response to ethylene treatment (4 h, 0.3 [mu]L L-1) and during simulated transport (3 days, 5 [degree sign]C and 95% RH, 0.067 +/- 0.004 [mu]L L-1 ethylene) in all cultivars, but its effectiveness varied with genotype. In all genotypes, ethylene-induced petal abscission increased with floret age. Consequently, 1-MCP had a significant inhibitory effect on petal abscission of older florets, less effect on freshly opened florets, and no effect on the florets that opened after simulated transport. Whole plant longevity in a simulated consumer environment was significantly higher for Penn State genotypes, which retained and maintained twice as many flowers as commercial genotypes. 1-MCP treatment had no effect on plant performance after simulated transport in any of the cultivars. These results indicate that 1-MCP pretreatment prevents petal abscission of florets during shipping but that only reduced ethylene sensitivity achieved through breeding improves quality during the entire postproduction period.
