ABSCISIC ACID DRENCHES IMPROVE POSTPRODUCTION SHELF LIFE OF IMPATIENS

Abstract

Foliar sprays or root dips of synthetic abscisic acid (s-ABA) have shown to reduce the transpiration rate and subsequently prolong postharvest longevity in a select group of herbaceous ornamental crops. The objective of our study was to determine the impact of s-ABA on postproduction performance of seed impatiens in greenhouse or low light conditions. Market ready Impatiens wallerana `Xtreme Scarlet' plants were sprayed or the root substrate was drenched with s-ABA at 250 or 500 mg·L–1 then boxed for 48 h to represent shipping conditions. Flower number was measured 3 days after application, and again after plants were hydrated following the day when the last treatment wilted 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, or 24 days after application. Visual quality ratings were made 0, 2, 3, 4, 8, 11, 16, or 19 days after application and again after plants were re-irrigated. Drenching the substrate with s-ABA at 500 mg·L–1 maintained foliage and flower turgidity up to 8 days in the greenhouse environment and 16 days in the low light environment. Substrate drenches at 500 mg·L–1 dramatically decreased flower number after removal from the shipping box under greenhouse conditions, and in the low light environment drenching the substrate at 250 mg·L–1 produced similar visual quality results to 500 mg·L–1 16 days after treatment. Plants drenched at 250 mg·L–1 also had the same number of flowers 3 and 20 days after treatment, when compared to 500 mg·L–1. Therefore, impatiens growers should drench the root substrate with s-ABA at 250 mg·L–1 to reduce labor costs associated with hand-watering and prolong postproduction performance in low light conditions, such as indoor retail conditions.