A Volatile Ethylene Inhibitor Improves the Postharvest Life of Potted Roses

Abstract

Pretreating `Victory Parade' potted miniature roses (Rosa hybrida L.) with photolyzed diazocyclopentadiene (DACP) inhibited the effects of exogenous ethylene (acceleration of leaf and bud drop). In an ethylene-free simulated interior environment, display life of the treated plants was also greater than that of the controls and similar to that of plants pretreated with the anionic silver thiosulfate complex (STS). DACP caused an increase in the binding constant for ethylene in petals and leaves of `Victory Parade' and `Cara Mia' (a cut-flower rose cultivar). Competitive kinetics for the effects of increasing ethylene concentrations on control and DACP-treated plants are consistent with the hypothesis that the effects of DACP are due to irreversible binding to the ethylene-binding site.