Application of 1-MCP as a liquid formulation prevents ethylene-induced senescence in Phalaenopsis orchid flowers and Kalanchoë blossfeldiana inflorescences

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study provides a very first report on the use of a sprayable formulation of 1-MCP, HarvistaTM, on ornamental plant species. Individual florets of Phalaenopsis and inflorescences of Kalanchoë blossfeldiana were sprayed with 1, 2, 4, or 6% HarvistaTM and this was compared to the commonly used 1-MCP formulation, SmartFreshTM, which is administered as a powder releasing gas. HarvistaTM treatments for Kalanchoë were in addition also compared to plants treated with an alternative ethylene receptor blocker, STS, as well as with transgenic plants expressing the etr1-1 mutant gene of Arabidopsis thaliana. In the presence of ethylene, HarvistaTM at all concentrations (except 1% for Kalanchoë), as well as the conventional SmartFreshTM treatment, prevented wilting of florets and significantly extended their display life compared to that of control treatments: up to twofold for Kalanchoë and up to fourfold for Phalaenopsis. For Kalanchoë the best display life was, however, presented by etr1-1 transgenic plants. The efficacy and suitability of using HarvistaTM, a sprayable formulation of 1-MCP, was compared to using the gaseous application of SmartFreshTM, or the environmental hazardous silver treatment, against having to consider expensive and lengthy genetic modification with etr1-1 as commercial alternatives to achieve protection against the detrimental effects of ethylene. Abbreviations: 1-MCP, 1-methylcyclopropene; STS, silver thiosulfate