Articles
EFFECT OF THE ETHYLENE INHIBITOR 1-MCP IN POSTHARVEST CHAINS OF MINI-PHALAENOPSIS
Article number
970_22
Pages
205 – 211
Language
English
Abstract
Phalaenopsis is an important ornamental plant in many countries in Europe and Asia.
In Denmark more than 8 million plants were produced in 2010 of which 60-70% were mini-Phalaenopsis. The majority of the plants produced in Denmark is exported to other countries in Europe.
Hence, the plants are subjected to long periods of transportation, typically ranging from 8-20 hours in trucks.
Furthermore, it might take up to 3 days in total before the orchids reach their final destinations.
The gaseous plant hormone ethylene is an important factor affecting ornamental plant quality as it accelerates senescence and causes abscission of buds and flowers.
During the transportation period, plants are often subjected to several ethylene sources e.g., ripening fruits. Phalaenopsis is very sensitive to even low concentration (0.1 µlL-1) of ethylene and the producers are not always aware of the goods transported alongside the orchids leading to loss of quality.
In an attempt to mimic the effects of ethylene during transportation of mini-Phalaenopsis the two cultivars Allen and Venice were subjected to the following combinations of 0.1 µl/L ethylene (E) and 0.5 nlL-1 1-MCP (M) for 7 days: [+E, +M same time], [+E, -M], [-E, +M], [-E, -M], [+E, +M applied 2 h before] and [+E, +M applied 24 h after] in sealed chambers.
Ethylene treatment resulted in 100% wilted flower buds in both cultivars.
In comparison, the treatment [+E, +M applied 24 h after start] resulted in a significantly lower percentage of wilted buds, 7 and 18% for Allen and Venice, respectively.
Furthermore, for Allen, the majority of the flower buds did not wilt and did not shift color compared to the [+E, +M] treatment.
Collectively, these data indicated that a postharvest treatment of 0.5 nlL-1 1-MCP significantly can inhibit quality losses of mini-Phalaenopsis, which have been subjected to low amounts of ethylene.
In Denmark more than 8 million plants were produced in 2010 of which 60-70% were mini-Phalaenopsis. The majority of the plants produced in Denmark is exported to other countries in Europe.
Hence, the plants are subjected to long periods of transportation, typically ranging from 8-20 hours in trucks.
Furthermore, it might take up to 3 days in total before the orchids reach their final destinations.
The gaseous plant hormone ethylene is an important factor affecting ornamental plant quality as it accelerates senescence and causes abscission of buds and flowers.
During the transportation period, plants are often subjected to several ethylene sources e.g., ripening fruits. Phalaenopsis is very sensitive to even low concentration (0.1 µlL-1) of ethylene and the producers are not always aware of the goods transported alongside the orchids leading to loss of quality.
In an attempt to mimic the effects of ethylene during transportation of mini-Phalaenopsis the two cultivars Allen and Venice were subjected to the following combinations of 0.1 µl/L ethylene (E) and 0.5 nlL-1 1-MCP (M) for 7 days: [+E, +M same time], [+E, -M], [-E, +M], [-E, -M], [+E, +M applied 2 h before] and [+E, +M applied 24 h after] in sealed chambers.
Ethylene treatment resulted in 100% wilted flower buds in both cultivars.
In comparison, the treatment [+E, +M applied 24 h after start] resulted in a significantly lower percentage of wilted buds, 7 and 18% for Allen and Venice, respectively.
Furthermore, for Allen, the majority of the flower buds did not wilt and did not shift color compared to the [+E, +M] treatment.
Collectively, these data indicated that a postharvest treatment of 0.5 nlL-1 1-MCP significantly can inhibit quality losses of mini-Phalaenopsis, which have been subjected to low amounts of ethylene.
Publication
Authors
M.M. Hansen, R. Müller, H. Lütken
Keywords
bud drop, flower senescence, orchids, transportation, quality
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