Ethylene and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) had strong influence on the Consolida ajacis flower abscission and longevity. Ethylene was able to induce abscission of the flowers in concentrations equal or above 1,0 mg L-1 Ethrel, when sprayed over two hours at 30 minutes interval. Concentrations of 100 and 1000 mg L-1 Ehtrel induced fast flower abscission, reducing the longevity from 4.4 days on the control flowers to 1.8 and 1.2 days, respectively. Treatment with 1-MCP (0.5 g m-3 SmartFreshTM) was efficient in delaying the beginning of flower abscission, even when the inflorescences were sprayed with 100 mg L-1 Ethrel just after the 1-MCP treatment. Flowers treated exclusively with 1-MCP had the longevity extended in 33% as compared to the control treatment. Similar results were observed when the flowers were treated with 1-MCP followed by Etrhel. Compared to 1-MCP treatment alone or 1-MCP followed by Ethrel, there was a reduction of flower longevity when 1-MCP was applied after the Ethrel. This effect shows that 1-MCP was not able to completely block all the ethylene receptors, if Ehtrel was applied previously to 1-MCP.
abscission; vase life; Ethrel; SmartFreshTM
