Sensitivity of Potted Foliage Plant Genotypes to Ethylene and 1
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| POSTHARVEST BIOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY HORTSCIENCE 46(8):1127–1131. 2011. plants in the United States (J. Janssen, personal communication). In contrast, an alternative non-toxic gaseous inhibitor of ethylene bind- Sensitivity of Potted Foliage ing, 1-MCP, is gaining commercial acceptance (Reid and Staby, 2008; Serek et al., 1994). Plant Genotypes to Ethylene Although treatment with 1-MCP has been reported to protect numerous potted flowering and 1-Methylcyclopropene plants such as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana (Serek and Reid, 2000), Rosa ·hybrida (Serek et al., Andrew J. Macnish1, Ria T. Leonard2, and Terril A. Nell 1994), and Schlumbergera truncata (Serek and Department of Environmental Horticulture, P.O. Box 110670, University Sisler, 2001) against ethylene-induced floral of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611 organ abscission and senescence, there are limited publicly available data on its efficacy Additional index words. abscission, EthylBlocä sachets, leaf, postproduction, senescence to protect potted foliage plants. To date, –1 treatment of three potted foliage plant genera Abstract. Exposure to 0.1, 1.0, or 10 mLÁL ethylene for 4 days at 21 8C reduced the (Aglaonema ‘White Tip’, Ficus ‘Green Is- display life of 17 commonly traded potted foliage plant genotypes (Aglaonema ‘Mary land’, Ixora coccinea) with 100 to 300 nLÁL–1 Ann’, Anthurium scherzerianum ‘Red Hot’ and ‘White Gemini’, Aphelandra squarrosa 1-MCP for 2 to 8 h at 20 °C has been shown ‘Dania’, Chlorophytum comosum ‘Hawaiian’, Codiaeum variegatum pictum ‘Petra’, Dief- to prevent ethylene-mediated leaf abscission fenbachia maculata ‘Carina’, Dracaena marginata ‘Bicolor’ and ‘Magenta’, Euphorbia milii and/or senescence (Fan et al., 2009; Michaeli ‘Gaia’, Euphorbia splendens ‘Short and Sweet’, Ficus benjamina, Polyscias fruticosa et al., 1999; Philosoph-Hadas et al., 2005). ‘Castor’, Radermachera sinica ‘China Doll’, Schefflera elegantissima ‘Gemini’, Schefflera 1-MCP is registered as EthylBlocä arboricola ‘Gold Capella’, Spathiphyllum ‘Ty’s Pride’). Ethylene treatment hastened leaf (Floralife, Inc., Walterboro, SC) for use on and bract abscission or senescence. The responsiveness of plants to ethylene varied ornamental plants (Reid and Staby, 2008). considerably; six genotypes were sensitive to 0.1 mLÁL–1 ethylene, whereas three genotypes –1 1-MCP molecules are encapsulated in the required exposure to 10 mLÁL ethylene to trigger visible injury. Four genotypes a-cyclodextrin matrix of EthylBlocä and (Asplenium nidus, Chamaedorea elegans ‘Neathe Bella’, Hedera helix ‘Chicago’, Syngonium when dissolved in water release into the air. podophyllum ‘White Butterfly’) included in our study were insensitive to ethylene. Treating It is approved for use in closed tents, coolers, Aglaonema ‘Mary Ann’, Polyscias fruticosa ‘Castor’, and Schefflera arboricola ‘Gold –1 and truck trailers. EthylBlocä is also available Capella’ plants with 0.9 mLÁL 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP, provided as EthylBlocä), in a paper sachet that potentially offers a more a gaseous ethylene-binding inhibitor, for 4 to 5 h at 21 8C reduced the deleterious effects of convenient mode of application (Kostansek, ethylene. The release of 1-MCP from two sachets containing EthylBlocä into a single 2002). We previously reported that the re- shipping box also protected Aphelandra squarrosa ‘Dania’, Euphorbia milii ‘Gaia’, Polyscias lease of 1-MCP from two sachets contain- fruticosa ‘Elegans’, and Schefflera arboricola ‘Gold Capella’ plants from ethylene injury ing EthylBlocä in a closed shipping box was after simulated transport. Our data reveal the genetic variation in ethylene sensitivity sufficient to protect cut rose flowers against among potted foliage plants and highlight genotypes that benefit from 1-MCP treatment. ethylene during and immediately after ship- ment (Macnish et al., 2010). The EthylBlocä sachet system may also have potential to Potted foliage plants are high-value orna- epinasty, and/or senescence during transport protect sensitive potted foliage plants during mental commodities used to decorate indoor and retail display (Conover and Poole, 1984). shipment. and patio environments. In the United States, For some species, this loss in quality has been In the current study, we quantified the the wholesale value of potted foliage plant correlated with exposure to the gaseous phy- ethylene sensitivity of 20 potted foliage plant production was $498 million in 2010 (USDA, tohormone ethylene (Marousky and Harbaugh, genotypes traded in the United States. The 2011). Popular genera include Aglaonema, 1982; Woltering, 1987). Ethylene arising from efficacy of 1-MCP gas and sachet treatments Dieffenbachia, Dracaena, Epipremnum, Ficus, anthropogenic (e.g., auto exhaust fumes) and to protect responsive genotypes against eth- Hedera, Philodendron,andSyngonium (Chen biological (e.g., ripening fruit) sources can ylene during simulated transport and retail et al., 2002). Most foliage plants used in the occasionally accumulate to physiologically display was also tested. trade are endemic to the tropics and show active concentrations (e.g., 0.1 to 10 mLÁL–1) tolerance to drought and low light conditions. inside enclosed areas used to distribute and Materials and Methods With their attractive and diverse leaf forms, store foliage plants (Hoyer, 1995; Skog et al., colors, and textures, potted foliage plant dis- 2001). Although ethylene sensitivity varies Plant material. Twenty clonally propagated plays are recognized for enhancing human significantly among potted flowering geno- foliage plant genotypes previously observed to health, well-being, and productivity (Fjeld types (Muller et al., 1998; Serek and Reid, display leaf abscission and/or senescence dur- et al., 1998). 2000; Woltering, 1987), the response of fo- ing postproduction handling (N. McDonald, The marketability of foliage plants is fre- liage plants to ethylene has been less inten- personal communication) were selected for quently limited by premature leaf abscission, sively studied. Identifying the relative ethylene this study (Table 1). The plants were cultivated sensitivity of different potted foliage plant at commercial nurseries near Apopka, FL, genotypes could help optimize postproduction using standard cultural practices. Briefly, they Received for publication 7 June 2011. Accepted for operations and handling procedures that re- were planted in 10- or 12.5-cm-diameter round publication 27 June 2011. duce ethylene damage. plastic pots containing a Canadian Sphagnum Financial support from the National Foliage Foun- Treatment with silver thiosulfate (STS) peatmoss-based mix. The plants were grown dation is gratefully acknowledged. We thank fo- liquid has long been relied on to extend the inside shaded greenhouses at average day/night liage plant growers in Florida for providing plant longevity of ethylene-sensitive ornamentals temperatures of 13/24 °C (winter), 15/27 °C materials and Floralife, Inc. for supplying 1-MCP. (Nowak and Rudnicki, 1990). Silver ions (spring), 22/35 °C (summer), and 15/27 °C We also acknowledge Kate Hughes, Amy Alexander, bind to ethylene receptors in plant tissues (fall). On reaching a marketable stage, plants Dianne Amendola, Yvonne Arwood, and Camila and block ethylene action (Sisler et al., 1986). were transported from the nurseries to the Paula for technical assistance. 1Current address: Department of Plant Sciences, However, STS has been criticized on social laboratory at the University of Florida in University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, and environmental grounds owing to con- Gainesville, FL, in an air-conditioned (20 °C) CA 95616. cerns associated with handling and disposing car within 2 h. Plants of uniform height, width, 2To whom reprint requests should be addressed; silver solutions (Nell, 1992). Moreover, STS leaf number, and overall quality were then e-mail rleonard@ufl.edu. is presently not legalized for use on potted randomly assigned to treatments. HORTSCIENCE VOL. 46(8) AUGUST 2011 1127 Table 1. The 20 potted foliage plant genotypes used in the ethylene sensitivity study, their mean height and width, and the number and timing of experiments. Genotype Plant ht (cm)z Plant width (cm)z Number of experiments Time of experiments (months) Aglaonema ‘Mary Ann’ 31.2 ± 1.4 39.3 ± 2.0 2 August, December Anthurium scherzerianum ‘White Gemini’ 47.7 ± 0.7 36.4 ± 2.7 2 June, July Anthurium scherzerianum ‘Red Hot’ 30.3 ± 2.8 40.9 ± 2.2 3 May, August, September Aphelandra squarrosa ‘Dania’ 24.6 ± 0.8 31.4 ± 0.7 2 February, June Asplenium nidus 16.2 ± 1.3 24.0 ± 2.3 2 September, October Chamaedorea elegans ‘Neathe Bella’ 39.4 ± 2.5 32.9 ± 2.7 2 February, October Chlorophytum comosum ‘Hawaiian’ 18.0 ± 0.7 35.3 ± 1.1 2 February, May Codiaeum variegatum pictum ‘Petra’ 21.7 ± 0.9 33.8 ± 1.2 4 February, May, September, October Dieffenbachia maculata ‘Carina’ 25.1 ± 1.1 33.0 ± 1.2 2 August, September Dracaena marginata ‘Bicolor’ 38.8 ± 1.3 40.8 ± 1.8 2 February, May Dracaena marginata ‘Magenta’ 42.4 ± 2.4 43.0 ± 2.0 2 May, August Euphorbia splendens ‘Short and Sweet’ 22.7 ± 0.5 25.3 ± 1.5 1 February Ficus benjamina 39.8 ± 1.7 39.0 ± 2.8 1 December Hedera helix ‘Chicago’ 15.3 ± 0.5 30.3 ± 1.6 2 June, July Polyscias fruticosa ‘Castor’ 37.0 ± 0.8 24.4 ± 0.9 2 August, November Radermachera sinica ‘China Doll’ 20.7 ± 0.9 20.1 ± 0.8 2 December Schefflera arboricola ‘Gold Capella’ 30.1 ± 2.2 38.3 ± 1.0 2 October, December Schefflera elegantissima ‘Gemini’ 30.7 ± 1.0 17.2 ± 0.6 2 February, May Spathiphyllum ‘Ty’s Pride’ 25.1 ± 1.7 39.7 ± 1.2 3 May, August, September Syngonium podophyllum ‘White Butterfly’ 19.9 ± 0.6 35.9 ± 1.5 1 May zData (means ± SE) are representative of five plants per experiment. Expt. 1: Ethylene sensitivity. Plants were immediately exposed to 0 and either 1 mLÁL–1 potted foliage plants against ethylene during enclosed into 99-L glass aquariums and (Polyscias, Schefflera)or10mLÁL–1 (Aglao- a simulated shipment was determined. Aphe- exposed to 0 (control), 0.1, 1.0, and 10 mLÁL–1 nema) ethylene for 4 d at 21 °C as described in landra squarrosa ‘Dania’ plants were treated ethylene in flowing streams of air (0.6 Expt.