The respiration rate (RR) (CO2 production), activation energy (Ea) and Q10 of maleic hydrazide-treated onion bulbs (Allium cepa, cv. Rouge Amposta) at 20.10-6 mol.L-1 (MH1) and 45.10-6 mol.L-1 (MH2) were measured at 4, 10 and 20ºC. Immediately after treatment, the Q10 of MH-treated and control bulbs were not significantly different. After 8 weeks of storage, Q10 of control and both MH-treated bulbs increased and ranged from 2.34 and 2.89. Respiration rate of onions increased during storage, and after 24 weeks, RR values of control, MH1 and MH2 were 0.43, 0.32 and 0.26 mmol CO2.kg-1.h-1 at 20ºC respectively; and 0.26, 0.20 and 0.17 mmol CO2.kg-1.h-1 at 10ºC respectively. At 4ºC, no significant difference was observed between control and MH-treated bulbs. After 24 weeks, sprouting of the control and MH1 and MH2-treated bulbs was 75%, 38% and 33% at 20ºC respectively, and 50%, 22% and 17% at 10ºC respectively. At 4ºC, the sprouting level of control bulbs did not exceed 7% and was 5% for MH-treated bulbs. No difference was observed in rotting of control and MH-treated bulbs, and the low rotting observed at 4ºC could be attributed to low temperature rather than maleic hydrazide treatment.
activation energy; MH; onion; Q10; respiration rate; sprouting; storage
