Use of a non-volatile 1-MCP formulation, N,N-dipropyl(1-cyclopropenylmethyl)amine, for improvement of postharvest quality of ornamental crops

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Abstract

Cyclopropene compounds have been shown to counteract ethylene responses in plants in many studies. They are volatile and for that reason are applied in enclosed systems. However, in some cases, use of a non-volatile formulation would be advantageous. This study reports the use of a novel anti-ethylene formulation, a salt N,N-dipropyl(1-cyclopropenylmethyl)amine (DPCA), applied to plant material as a spray. Four ethylene-sensitive plant species with a high ornamental value: Rosa hybrida L. ‘Lavander’, Dianthus caryophyllus L. ‘Idra di Muraglia’, Pelargonium zonale ‘Katinka’, and Phalaenopsis ‘Lila’ were sprayed with different amounts of DPCA: 0, 0.4, 2, 4, 20 or 40 nmol and the effectiveness of DPCA was compared with volatile 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) applied at 0.2 μL L−1 for 6 h. After chemical treatments the plant material was ventilated with 1 μL L−1 ethylene or with ethylene-free air. Postproduction quality of flowers and leaves was evaluated and ethylene production in carnation flowers was measured. The optimum concentration of DPCA varied among the tested plant material, but the best concentrations gave protection against ethylene equivalent to the 1-MCP volatile treatment. DPCA amounts of 4 nmol or higher effectively prevented ethylene production in carnation flowers during the postharvest period.

Introduction

The cut flower market is increasingly characterized by research creating innovative technologies to enhance the quality of products. External qualitative attributes that allow an appreciation of visual features of cut flowers include size, shape and color, as well as absence of possible mechanical damage and injuries caused by insects or diseases (Gullino and Garibaldi, 2007). Postharvest vase life is the parameter that defines quality of flower products. Longevity of cut flowers is derived from the interaction between the genotype of each species and environmental conditions. Flower senescence is influenced by several factors, including endogenous and exogenous ethylene. In many plant species ethylene has a detrimental effect on the vase life of sensitive cut stems and it is particularly important in inducing undesirable abscission, senescence and physiological disorders of vegetative and generative organs (Serek et al., 2006). It also damages product quality, causing loss of cellular turgor, chlorophyll and pigment degradation.

During the 1970s it was found that chemical compounds, such as 2,5-NBD (2,5-norbornadiene), and STS (silver thiosulfate), interacted with the ethylene receptor and modulated ethylene responses (Sisler and Pian, 1973, Veen and Geijn, 1978, Veen, 1983). Although 2,5-NBD bound competitively to the receptor its very disagreeable odor limited its use to scientific investigations only (Sisler and Serek, 1999). For two decades STS was the only effective compound used commercially in ornamentals to prevent ethylene action at the receptor level. However, STS contains silver that is an environmental pollutant, and researchers have therefore been searching for alternative tools for preventing ethylene action in ornamental crops (Serek et al., 1994, Serek et al., 2006, Serek and Sisler, 2001, Sisler et al., 1996, Sisler et al., 2001). In the early 1990s 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) was shown to be an effective and environmentally safe blocker of ethylene binding sites. This gaseous compound acts at low concentrations even after a single application of a few hours (Serek et al., 1995, Serek et al., 2006). The commercial product is a powder, releasing gas after addition of water or buffer solution (Serek et al., 2006). However, 1-MCP's volatile character limits its application to enclosed areas. In some cases outdoor, open space application is desirable. Therefore it would be advantageous to develop a non-volatile formulation of 1-MCP.

Different cyclopropene salt compounds have been recently synthesised and used to protect banana fruit against ethylene (Sisler et al., 2009). Cyclopropene salt compounds differ among each other in their chemical structure, but each have a methyl group in the 1-position, on which an amine is substituted. Such compounds can be used as a gas in a confined space or as a salt in the open space, since a nitrogen molecule can be converted to a salt by acid. In the study with banana fruit one of the most effective salt compounds was N,N-dipropyl(1-cyclopropenylmethyl)amine (DPCA) (Sisler et al., 2009), and therefore we decided to use DPCA in our study. The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of non-volatile application of this anti-ethylene compound by including it in a new molecule-delivery system: the salt of the cyclopropene DPCA. In particular, its effects on ornamental crops were evaluated.

Section snippets

Plant materials

Four ethylene-sensitive plant species were selected because of their ornamental value: Rosa hybrida L. cv. ‘Lavander’, Dianthus caryophyllus L. cv. ‘Idra di Muraglia’, Pelargonium zonale cv. ‘Katinka’, and Phalaenopsis cv. ‘Lila’. Rosa and Pelargonium were propagated from cuttings and grown in the experimental greenhouse at the University of Hannover, under a temperature regime of 22 °C/20 °C (day/night) and 70% relative humidity (RH). Day length was extended to 16 h by SON-T lamps (Osram, 400W,

Results

The present study investigated the efficacy and the optimum concentration of DPCA in restricting the senescence process in florets and leaves of different ornamental species. A preliminary experiment indicated that DPCA application was more effective as a spray than as an addition to tap water (data not shown), therefore spray applications were used subsequently.

Both DPCA and 1-MCP significantly increased the number of days to reach each stage of floret senescence in all investigated species.

Discussion

This study determined the postharvest performance of florets and leaves of different ornamental species by visual evaluation of senescence symptoms and by measurement of ethylene production following application of a new non-volatile anti-ethylene compound DPCA.

DPCA enhanced vase life of florets in tested ornamentals, reduced ethylene production in carnation florets and prevented chlorophyll degradation in pelargonium leaves. At some concentrations, this compound was as effective as 1-MCP,

Acknowledgement

The authors acknowledge Prof. Errol Hewett, Massey University, New Zealand for reading the manuscript for clarity and language.

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Permanent address: Department of Agronomy, Forest and Land Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Turin, Via Leonardo da Vinci 44, 10095 Grugliasco (TO), Italy.

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