The effect of silver thiosulphate pre-treatment on 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid content and action in cut carnations

Endogenous 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) levels, and the ACC → ethylene (C₂H₄) conversion of exogenously applied ACC in naturally senescing and silver thiosulphate (STS) pre-treated cut carnations, were investigated. Under natural conditions, increase in ACC accumulation coincided with the onset of the climacteric rise in C₂H₄ production. Flowers pre-treated with STS did not show this increase in ACC content. Exogenously applied ACC caused wilting within 24 h and an increase in C₂H₄ production up to 1300 nl/h/flower. Flowers successively treated with STS and ACC produced C₂H₄ at quantities much higher than the controls, but showed no wilting. Together, these data suggest that the binding of C₂H₄ to its receptor leads to an increase in the production of ACC and of C₂H₄. By blocking the C₂H₄ action, the silver ion inhibits the autocatalytic increase in C₂H₄ and the accompanying rise in ACC content.     

Longevity of Epidendrum ibaguense flowers as affected by pre-loading treatments and vase solution

Summary

Post-harvest longevity of Epidendrum ibaguense cut flowers was maximum when treated for 6 h with 1 g m^–3 Ethylbloc^® [0.14% 1-methylcyclopropene; 1-MCP] followed, or not, by pulsing with 200 g l^–1 sucrose for 12 h. This extended the vase-life from 5.5 d to at least 11 d. Cut inflorescences pulsed with 2.0 mM silver thiosulphate (STS) had reduced abscission of flowers, similar to the effect of 1-MCP. When inflorescences were pulsed with 200 g l^–1 sucrose alone for 12 h, no effect was observed on the vase-life of the flowers. Flowers kept in a vase solution containing 20 g l^–1 sucrose, 150 mg l^–1 citric acid, and 200 mg l^–1 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate did not influence the longevity of 1-MCP or STS pre-treated flowers, but the vase solution had a small influence on retarding abscission compared with flowers kept in distilled water. Adding 0.2 mM STS to the vase solution improved vase-life 1.74- and 1.45-fold compared with the longevity of flowers kept in distilled water or in vase solution alone, respectively. The presence of 0.3 mM AgNO₃ alone, or mixed into the vase solution, had no affect on the vase-life of the flowers.     

Responses of banana fruit to pro-long coating at different times relative to the initiation of ripening

Coating banana fruit with Pro-long 24 h after initiation of ripening decreased their skin permeability to gases and depressed their O₂ content. Coating the fruit immediately before ripening initiation delayed the onset of rapid ethylene production, which normally begins as the fruit start to ripen. Coating slightly suppressed rapid C₂H₄ production when applied immediately after ripening initiation, and exerted a strong, temporary inhibition of C₂H₄ production when applied 24 h later. A climacteric rise in respiration was absent from fruit coated with Pro-long immediately before or after ripening initiation; delaying coating by a further 24 h arrested development of the climacteric in mid-rise. In mid-climacteric fruit, inhibition of C₂H₄ production by coating occurred more rapidly than inhibition of respiration. Coating the fruit delayed the chlorophyll loss which normally accompanies ripening, but the magnitude of this effect declined as the coating treatment was delayed relative to ripening initiation. The effects of coating on skin colour change and on respiration appeared to be largely independent of its effect on the fruit's C₂H₄ content.     

Variability between silver thiosulfate and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid applications in prolonging bract longevity of potted bougainvillea

Potted bougainvillea ‘Purple Flower’ and ‘Taipei Red’ in four different stages of bract development were sprayed with STS (0.1, 0.5 mM) or NAA (25, 50 ppm) and were moved to low-light indoor conditions after treatment. The experiment was conducted twice, and the results showed that 0.5 mM STS and NAA (25, 50 ppm) could significantly prolong the longevity of bracts at certain stages in both cultivars. Treatment with 0.1 mM STS, however, had no effect on bract longevity of ‘Taipei Red’ at any stage. The prolonging effect of STS was more obvious in early bract stages and decreased as the bract stage increased, whereas NAA applications at later bract stages produced better results on prolonging bract longevity. The ethylene production rates of bracts in these two cultivars were higher in early stages and gradually decreased with bract growth. We propose that this phenomenon is related to the variability between STS and NAA in prolonging bract longevity of bougainvillea.     

Effect of green tea extract powder on the vase-life of fresh-cut rose (Rosa hybrida L.) ‘Carola’ stems

To develop an innocuous, easy-to-use, and inexpensive preservative for the cut flower industry, green tea extract (GTE) powder was applied in the fresh-cut rose stem preservation process to exploit its high anti-oxidative and anti-microbial properties. The effects of 2.0 g l^?1 GTE powder in the vase solution on the vase-life and flowering profile of cut rose (Rosa hybrida ‘Carola’) stems were investigated. The effectiveness of GTE powder was also compared with other preservatives such as 2% (w/v) sucrose, 200 mg l^?1 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate plus 2% (w/v) sucrose, or 0.2 mM silver thiosulphate in the vase solution, with distilled water as a control. The results showed that, compared to the control, the 2.0 g l^?1 GTE powder treatment extended the vase-life and reduced the loss in fresh weight in cut rose stems in the vase solution. GTE at 2.0 g l^?1 provided the highest anti-bacterial activity (4.2 log₁₀ CFU ml^?1 on day-6) and prevented the decline in anthocyanin concentrations compared to that seen in the control stems, suggesting that GTE powder could be used as a preservative to extend the vase-life of fresh-cut rose flowers.     

纳米银对瓶插月季切花乙烯作用的拮抗效应

 以月季‘影星’（Rosa hybrida‘Movie Star’）切花为试材,用5、10和30 mg · L^-1纳米银（nano-silver,NS）溶液,0.5 mmol · L^-1硫代硫酸银（silver thiosulfate,STS）溶液和去离子水（对照）分别预处理花枝（长为25 cm）基端2 h后再移至去离子水中瓶插,之后用10 μL · L^-1外源乙烯处理24 h,观测切花瓶插期间的观赏品质,瓶插寿命,花径和花枝鲜样质量等指标的变化。结果表明：乙烯处理可加快切花失水凋萎及叶片脱落,并抑制花朵开放,而NS处理可显著减轻乙烯处理的不利影响,其中以30 mg · L^-1 NS处理效果最佳,该处理月季切花的瓶插寿命比乙烯处理延长7 d。另外,取月季切花的花朵（带5 cm花茎,无叶）进行上述试验,进一步证实乙烯处理可抑制花朵开放,而NS处理可显著减轻乙烯对花朵开放的抑制作用。     

Ethylene evolution and sensitivity in cut orchid flowers

The effects of ethylene and the rate of ethylene production were studied in several orchid flowers. Orchid flowers showed a wide range of sensitivity to ethylene; Vanda ‘Miss Joaquim’ was most sensitive, Cattleya, Cymbidium and Paphiopedilum were less sensitive, while Dendrobium and Oncidium were not sensitive. Ethylene production in opened flowers was low, less than 1 nl/flower/h. In Cattleya, a peak in ethylene production was observed at the onset of senescence. Emasculated and/or pollinated flowers of Vanda, Cattleya and Paphiopedilum produced high levels of ethylene; Dendrobium did not react to these treatments in ethylene production.The anionic silver-thiosulfate complex (STS) was partially inhibitory to ethylene production in emasculated Cymbidium flowers, but appeared to stimulate the process in pollinated flowers. It was, however, effective in decreasing anthocyanin synthesis in both emasculated and pollinated Cymbidium flowers. In Cattleya, aminoxyacetic acid (AOA) and STS had no effect on longevity of cut flowers.     

Effects of duration of exposure to ethylene on dormancy release in freesia corms

The exposure of freesia corms to ethylene (C₂H₄) at ca. 10 μl/l air for only 5 h was sufficient to promote sprouting, either under a closed system in which corms were treated in a sealed space of 3–10 1 or under a flow system in which corms were exposed to a continuous flow of air containing C₂H₄. Under the closed system, little change in corm response to C₂H₄ was found with increasing duration of exposure from 5 to 48 h, and the C0₂ concentration reached nearly 4% after 48 h. On the other hand, under the flow system, in which CO₂ did not accumulate above 0.1%, the promotive effect of C₂H₄ was diminished by extended exposure from 5 to 48 h.Repeated treatment with C₂H₄ for 23 h daily on 4 successive days resulted in the lowering of the promotive effect as compared with a single treatment, but repeated application of C₂H₄ for 5 h daily showed the same effect as a single application and gave a high sprouting rate similar to smoke treatment, independent of ambient temperature ranging from 25 to 35° C.Corms exposed to C₂H₄ for 5 h daily, or to smoke for 4 days, exhibited a better chilling response and advanced flowering.     

Factors affecting the vase life of fronds of maidenhair fern

Cut fronds of maidenhair fern (Adiantum raddianum), which last only 3 days in DI water, were used as a model system to study factors affecting the vase life of cut greens. Solutions containing 25 mg 1^?1 Ag⁺ increased vase life 5-fold. Other biocides (8-hydroxyquinoline citrate, a quaternary ammonium compound, or 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate + NaOCl) had little effect on vase life, while inhibitors of ethylene (C₂H₄) production (Co²⁺, aminooxyacetic acid) increased vase life. Wound C₂H₄ production by the cut ends of the stipes declined during the first 2 h after cutting. The hypothesis that this C₂H₄ is the cause of the brief vase life of maidenhair fern is discussed.     

Wound-induced production of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid and accelerated senescence of Petunia corollas

Treatment of the corollas of Petunia multiflora cultivar ‘Gypsy’ with ACC (1mM) caused accelerated corolla wilting similar to that caused by stigma wounding, whereas AVG or AOA, inhibitors of ACC synthesis, delayed the response.Concentrations of endogenous ACC were found to increase significantly in the gynoecia and corollas of stigma-wounded flowers within 24 and 48 h, respectively; C₂H₄ production also increased in the gynoecia and to a lesser extent in the corollas.The results are discussed in relation to the possible hormonal change induced by stigma wounding or pollination.     

Effects of gaseous compounds in smoke on dormancy release in freesia corms

Exposing corms to smoke generated from smouldering plant materials (“smoke treatment”) releases freesia corms from dormancy. The smoke was found to contain some hydrocarbons, i.e. ethane, ethylene, (C₂H₄), and propylene at concentrations below 130 μl 1^?1, and carbon monoxide (CO) at 2000-400 μl 1^?1.Exogenous C₂H₄ at low levels of 100-1 μl/litre air strongly stimulated dormancy-release. In contrast, propylene and acetylene were required at a concentration much higher than that in the smoke to exert the dormancy-releasing effect: the application of 100 μl/litre air had little or no effect. Air containing $\text{1000 μ}\text{l CO}\text{litre}$ air produced some effect, which could be masked by co-existence of $\text{10 μ}\text{l C}{}_2\text{H}{}_4\text{litre}$ air. Acetaldehyde, which may occasionally be present in smoke, showed the dormancy release at ca. 1 mM but was phytotoxic. Corms exposed to smoke or C₂H₄ did not show an endogenous C₂H₄ rise, while non-treated corms showed it distinctly before dormancy release.These results suggest that a C₂H₄-stimulus is dominant in smoke treatment.     

Growth,allocation of N and carbohydrates,and stomatal conductance of greenhouse grown apple treated with prohexadione-Ca and gibberellins

Summary

Potted M.26 apple (Mahis domestica) liners were treated with the gibberellin biosynthesis inhibitor prohexadione-Ca (Apogee®) at 0 to 500 mg l”¹ as a foliar spray. Apogee inhibited stem elongation, leaf formation, total leaf area and shoot dry weight, while significantly increasing specific leaf weight, root dry weight and root: shoot ratio, regardless of rate. Foliar application of gibberellin A4₊₇ (GA4₊₇) at 200 mg l”¹ to Apogee-treated plants one day later reversed these effects, especially stem elongation, root dry-matter production and root: shoot ratio. Apogee increased N concentration in stems but not in leaves and roots. There was no effect on the pattern of N allocation amongst organs. GA4+7 increased leaf N concentration but decreased stem and root N concentrations compared with untreated controls, with N allocation shifting from roots to stem. Total nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC), expressed either on a concentration or content basis, increased in all parts of the Apogee-treated plants, due to increased levels of starch rather than soluble sugars, without altering allocation pattern. Conversely, GA4₊₇ reduced TNC levels (mainly starch levels) in all parts, with the pattern of allocation slightly shifted from roots to stem. The afternoon decline in stomatal conductance occurred earlier in the Apogee treated plants, measured 10 d after stem elongation had ceased. Starch buildup in the Apogee-treated plants appeared to be associated with this effect, suggesting an involvement of a feedback inhibition of photosynthesis in the Apogee-induced stomatal control.     

Identification of the ethylene precursor, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), in pollen

Within 15 min after application of pollen to the stigma of carnation flowers (Dianthus caryophyllus L. cultivar ‘White Sim’), ethylene (C₂H₄) production by the gynoecium had increased substantially. Pollen germination did not start until 1 h after pollination. Analysis of materials removed from pollen by a brief rinse with an aqueous solvent showed the presence of high concentrations of the C₂H₄ precursor, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC). This compound, which was found to be present in pollen from a number of flower species and which increased in concentration as the anthers developed, may be an important mediator of the early response of flowers to pollination.     

Tragbares Ethylenmessgerät mit hoher Auflösung durch neue Sensortechnologie

A new electro-catalytic sensor for the measurement of the gaseous ethylene (C₂H₄) concentration in air is described here. The measuring principle is based on ethylene oxidation to CO₂ and H₂O on a gold-plated anode with weak sulphuric acid as a catalyst, the small ethylene molecules are trapped in the pores of the gold-plated anode; the measurement consumes ethylene. During the warming-up phase, the unit automatically calibrates its zero by employing dried, ethylene-free gas from the built-in drying and potassium permanganate columns. Thereafter, the unit requires calibration with humidified gas from gas supplied externally e.g. from a cylinder at a concentration of between 4–10 ppm C₂H₄; this end-point calibration is kept until switching off. The accuracy was 96–98% with a SD of 0.05–0.15?ppm C₂H₄ and a variation coefficient of 0.5–2%, when the calibration gas of 8?ppm C₂H₄was measured after the calibration. The measuring range is 0–50?ppm C₂H₄ with an accuracy of ±?5% and displayed resolution of 1?ppb. For a typical 30?sec measurement, the instrument draws a ca. 150?ml gas sample and appears suitable for measurement of individual fruit in an open or closed gas system, single gas samples or traditional injection of a ca. 5?ml gas sample. Temperature and humidity (and as additional options CO₂ concentration, another gas or ethylene analogues like MCP) are displayed concomitantly. The reproducibility of the values was 93% with 3 subsequent measurements of a variety of fruits. The unit can be operated on mains or built-in battery providing up to 8?hours operation and weighs about 4.5?kg including battery, which makes it portable for in-situ ethylene measurement after calibration with an external gas supply. The instrument appears to be an elegant alternative to the traditional determination of ethylene concentration based on a 10?ml sample from the head space of jar after several hours of accumulation, by a gas chromatograph with N₂ as tracer gas, Poropak?Q column and flame ionisation detector (FID).     

Increases in ethylene and carbon dioxide production by Tulipa gesneriana L. ‘Prominence’ after completion of the cold-requirement

Bulbs of Tulipa gesneriana L. ‘Prominence’ were either specially pre-cooled at 5 ± 0.5°C or held at 17 ± 0.5°C in a flow-through system equipped for atmospheric sampling. Bulbs at 17°C had low CO₂ and C₂H₄ production rates until January when they began to increase. An initial peak of C₂H₄ production occurred during the 2nd week of pre-cooling, followed by a major increase after 12 weeks. In addition, bulbs were specially pre-cooled for periods of 2–16 weeks (2-week increments). The bulbs were then transferred to 17 ± 0.5°C, where initial periods of special pre-cooling of greater than 12 weeks resulted in a dramatic increase in respiration rate over bulbs cooled for less than 12 weeks. These increases in C₂H₄ and CO₂ liberation appeared to be related to completion of the bulb cold-requirement. However, no surge of shoot elongation occurred after 12 weeks of pre-cooling and transfer to 17°C.     

Gibberellic acid soak treatments for fully-cooled tulips

In attempts to reduce the glasshouse period of fully-cooled 5°C-forced tulips, ‘Apeldoorn’ bulbs were soaked before planting in aerated and non-aerated gibberellic acid (GA₃) solutions for 2–48 h. A 48-h treatment with 250–500 mg l^?1 GA₃ was the most effective, giving a glasshouse period 7–11 days shorter than for untreated bulbs. Soaks for 24 and 48 h caused root emergence, and 48-h soaks caused perianth segment splitting in one experiment. Aerated or non-aerated GA₃ solutions gave similar results. Soaking in water alone gave a smaller increase in earliness. In general, a shortened glasshouse period was associated with shorter whole stem and last internode lengths. In GA₃ treatments, flower losses were lower than for distilled water treated and untreated bulbs. A practical treatment would be a non-aerated soak for 24 h with between 250 and 500 mg l^?1 GA₃.     

Regulation of gibberellin biosynthesis and stem elongation by low temperature in Eustoma grandiflorum

Summary

Heat-induced rosetted Eustoma grandiflorum requires low temperature for induction of stem elongation and flowering. Although heat-induced rosetting is associated with a reduction of gibberellin A₁ (GA₁) content, how thermo-induction affects GA biosynthesis is unclear. Thus, we examined levels of GA, precursors including that of ent-kaurene which is the first committed step in GA biosynthesis. We used uniconazole, an ent-kaurene oxidase inhibitor to estimate the ent-kaurene biosynthesis activity. The accumulation level of ent-kaurene in stems of the cold-treated seedlings was approximately 1.8 times that of the non-cold-treated seedlings, whereas no difference was observed in the leaves. No change was observed in endogenous levels of GA₁ and GA₂₀ in stems of the heat-induced rosetted plants during the cold treatment, whereas their levels increased with stem elongation after transfer to warm conditions. In contrast to the levels of GA₁ and GA₂₀, endogenous levels of ent-kaurene, ent-kaurenoic acid, GA₅₃, GA₄₄ and GA₁₉ in the stems markedly increased at the end of cold treatment. These results indicate that ent-kaurene biosynthesis and its metabolism early in the GA biosynthetic pathway are stimulated by low temperature and, later, the stimulation leads to an increment of endogenous levels of GA₁ which is essential for stem elongation of the heat-induced rosetted E. grandiflorum.     

The effect of ethephon on the growth and development of Liatris spicata

Summary

The first experiment studied the effect of applying ethylene biosynthesis regulating compounds (ethephon 1000 ppm, silver thiosulphate 0.4 mM and cobalt chloride 5 mM) on the growth and development of Liatris spicata cv. Callilepis. The results pointed to the important growth retardant properties of ethephon and the increased number of flowering stems per corm which could be obtained by pre-planting application. A second experiment aimed to optimize ethephon treatment in Liatris by applying the growth retardant in different concentrations (100, 700, 1300, 1900 and 2500 ppm) at three stages of development: stage I (pre-planting), stage II (immediately after the formation of basal leaf rosette) and stage III (when the main shoot began its rapid longitudinal growth). Besides confirming the effects produced by ethephon in the first experiment, the results suggested that the application of high ethephon concentrations (1900 and 2500 ppm) during stage II of growth produced many miniature flowering stems coming from the principal or secondary shoot.     

Water Salinity and Initial Development of Pitaya (Hylocereus undatus)

ABSTRACT

Salinity is an important environmental problem, especially in arid and semiarid regions of the world. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of water salinity on the initial development of pitaya (Hylocereus undatus)using five levels of irrigation water with electrical conductivity (EC_w) levels: 0; 1.0; 2.0; 3.0 and 4.0 dS m^_1. Salinity inhibited plant height, stem diameter, root length, number of additional stems and the dry weight of roots and shoots. Tissue collapse on the stems was also noted. At the end of the experiment it was observed that 50% of plants irrigated with EC_w 4.0 dS mr ¹ died. Roots of pitaya were as sensitive as shoots to saline effects.     

Changes in physicochemical attributes of sweet pepper cv. Domino during fruit growth and development

The effect of harvesting sweet pepper ‘Domino’ fruit at different stages of growth and development on physicochemical attributes was studied. The suitability of fruit fresh weight, diameter and length, weeks from anthesis, total soluble solids (TSS), fruit colour change, firmness, internal CO₂ and C₂H₄ concentrations as well as fruit respiration and ethylene production as maturity indicators were evaluated. Fruits were harvested weekly until fully red ripe. Fruits took 8 weeks after anthesis (WAA) to reach harvest maturity and a further 2–3 weeks to reach full ripeness (11 WAA). Fruits exhibited a sigmoid growth pattern. Hue angle (change in colour from green to red) declined with time while chroma (colour intensity) values increased with fruit maturity, as did TSS. An increase in PⁱCO₂ and PⁱC₂H₄ accompanied the decrease in hue angle. The association between fruit ripening and the significant increase in PⁱC₂H₄ indicates that ethylene may be responsible for ripening of this cultivar of sweet pepper. Colour change and TSS were reasonable indicators of maturity of sweet pepper fruit complemented with fruit firmness.