Margrethe Serek1, 3, Edward C. Sisler2 and Michael S. Reid1

(1) Department of Environmental Horticulture, University of California, 95616 Davis, CA, USA
(2) Department of Biochemistry, North Carolina State University, 27695 Raleigh, NC, USA
(3) Present address: Section for Horticulture, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Rolighedsvej 23, 1958 Frederiksberg C., Denmark

Received: 7 April 1994 Accepted: 17 July 1994

Abstract Pretreatment for 6 h with low concentrations of 1-MCP (1-Methylcyclopropene, formerly designated as SIS-X), a cyclic ethylene analog, inhibits the normal wilting response of cut carnations exposed continuously to 0.4 l·l–1 ethylene. The response to 1-MCP was a function of treatment concentration and time. Treatment with 1-MCP was as effective in inhibiting ethylene effects as treatment with the anionic silver thiosulfate complex (STS), the standard commercial treatment. Other ethylene-sensitive cut flowers responded similarly to carnations. In the presence of 1 l·l–1 ethylene, the vase life of 1-MCP-treated flowers was up to 4 times that of the controls.
Key words abscission - Alstroemeria - Antirrhinum - Consolida - Dianthus - ethylene binding - flower senescence - 1-MCP - 1-Methylcyclopropene - Matthiola - Penstemon - SIS-X - silver thiosulfate

Abbreviations 1-MCP 1-Methylcyclopropene - STS silver thiosulfate