1-MCP pretreatment prevents bud and flower abscission in Dendrobium orchids

N. Uthaichay, S. Ketsa, W.G. van Doorn

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

    60 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Dendrobium orchid inflorescences were treated for 4 h at 25 °C with or without 100¿500 nl/l 1-MCP and were then placed in water at 25 °C to follow abscission. In controls, depending on the experiment, 20¿80% of the floral buds and 0¿20% of the open flowers abscised within 1 week. The 1-MCP pretreatment largely prevented this abscission. If flowers were exposed to 1.0 ¿l/l ethylene for 3 days, all floral buds and all open flowers abscised within the 3 days of treatment. 1-MCP treatment just prior to ethylene treatment largely prevented the ethylene effect. Treatment with STS was as effective as treatment with 1-MCP. Dendrobium inflorescences are usually shipped by air in cardboard boxes lined with plastic film. The stem ends are placed in plastic tubes filled with water. After shipment and placement in water, a considerable percentage of the buds, and some flowers, abscise. This is probably due to elevated ethylene concentrations inside the boxes. Treatment of the inflorescences with 100¿500 nl/l 1-MCP prior to simulated air transport largely prevented abscission during vase life. 1-MCP treatment inhibited ethylene production of the inflorescences by lowering both ACC synthase in open flowers and ACC oxidase activity in floral buds.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)374-380
    JournalPostharvest Biology and Technology
    Volume43
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2007

    Keywords

    • ethylene

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