Study on Production Model and Growth Environ Ment Control Factors of Mung Bean Sprout (III)-Discussion on the Relationship between Ethylene Application and growth Characteristics

Abstract

Due to the development of domestic economy and the promotion of living, the consumer demand higher quality of agricultural products that are safe and healthy. In recent years, the vegetable sprouts are regarded as healthy and chemical-free food. In order to promote the added value of mungbean sprout, an automatic multilayer production model had been established which can remove both the head (the cotyledon) and the tail (the radical) of the sprout. The mungbean sprout without the head and tail is a high value vegetable which also call ”silver sprout”. The production model is automatic from the soaking of the seeds to the harvest of the middle parts of the sprout. However, the innovative model still need the optimum environmental parameters (such as temperature, water management, density of seeds, the concentration of ethylene and the physical press on the seed tray) to produce high quality sprouts. This article discusses relations between quality of mungbean sprouts and application of ethylene gas in the innovative model. The later of the application of ethylene significantly increases the length of the hypocotyl, the root length, and the growth rate in the initial growth stage of sprout. The effect of ethylene on the weight of cotyledon is not significant. The time of application of ethylene and the growth characteristics of sprouts at harvest stage reveals the quadratic response. The concentration of ethylene also significantly influences the length and diameter of the hypocotyl, the growth rate and the shearing-resistance stress. The effect of different growth temperature on the length and the diameter of hypocotyls and the growth rate are highly significant. The shearing- resistance stress is significant influence by temperature. The interactions of the ethylene levels and the growth temperature on the length and diameter of hypocotyls and the shearing-resistance stress are highly significant. Therefore, the temperature and ethylene treatment are extremely important environmental factors in the bean sprout production process. The maximum growth temperature for the commercial production in the multilayer model is 33℃, and the application of the ethylene is the key measurement to control the quality of sprouts. The optimum concentration of ethylene in a completely airtight multilayer cultivation room is 2ppm.