Ethylene and 1-methylcyclopropene action over senescence of nasturtium flowers

ABSTRACT: This work describes ethylene and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) action on post-harvest shelf life of four development stages of nasturtium flowers. To reach this goal, we carried out three experiments. In the first and second experiments, we studied five ethylene (0; 0.1; 1; 10; 100 and 1000 μL/L) and three 1-MCP concentrations (0.25; 0.5 and 0.75 μL/L), respectively. In the third experiment, 1-MCP was followed by combined with ethylene (only 1-MCP; only ethylene; and 24 hours of exposure to 0.75 μL/L 1-MCP followed by 24 hours of exposure to 100 μL/L ethylene). All experiments had two control treatments, one keeping non-exposed flowers inside and another outside exposure chambers. Experiments were set in factorial design, in complete blocks at random, with four 10-flower replications each. Flower senescence was determined by a pre-established visual scale and by observing floral bud development. Ethylene dose above 10 μL/L induced flower wilting and premature senescence from the second floral development stage. Furthermore, higher concentrations of exogenous ethylene promoted irregular flower opening and/or morphological abnormalities in opened flowers. 1-MCP effectively extended post-harvest longevity of nasturtium flowers, independent of the concentration and even in the presence of exogenous ethylene.