1-MCP efficiency in quality of ornamental peppers

Abstract

1-MCP has been effectively used as an antagonist of ethylene deleterious actions in flowers and ornamental plants. The objective was to evaluate the efficiency of 1-MCP (0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 g m-3) in maintaining post-production quality of exogenous ethylene sensitive ornamental pepper. Two commercial varieties were evaluated: Pimenta Colorida and Pimentão Ornamental, both Capsicum annuum. The pre-treatment with 1-MCP, regardless of the applied concentration, was effective in blocking the ethylene action reducing the leaves abscission, flowers and fruits of both genotypes by 100%. Plants pretreated with 1-MCP had postproduction life increased by eight and nine days for Pimenta Colorida and Pimentão Ornamental, respectively. The 1-MCP application at the concentration of 1.0 g m-3 is efficient in maintaining ornamental quality and prolonging the shelf life of Pimenta Colorida and Pimentão Ornamental.

Sensitivity of ornamental pepper to ethylene

“…Plants of the genus Capsicum have different ethylene sensitivity levels (Lima et al, 2017). This hormone triggers a series of deleterious responses T ransport is the main factor affecting ornamental quality and longevity of ornamental pepper plants (França et al, 2018). Under the Brazilian transportation conditions, usually in trunk trucks, in the dark, without ventilation and humidity, over 48 hours, there occurr an accumulation and exposure of plants to ethylene present in the surrounding air (exhaust gases or transportation near ripe fruits).…”

“…In the laboratory, plants were stored in hermetically sealed 60 L chambers in the dark, simulating transport. These plants were exposed to applications of 0 (internal control) and 10 µL L -1 ethylene during 48 hours (Segatto et al, 2013;Lima et al, 2016;Ribeiro et al, 2018).…”

“…An ornamental pepper vase should have a good formation and stems with good vase coverage and sets without these characteristics are returned to the supplier (França et al, 2018;Veiling Holambra, 2019). Under the real conditions in which ornamental plants are transported in Brazil, usually in trunk trucks in the dark, without ventilation and irrigation, for more than 48 hours (Junqueira & Peetz, 2005), the genotypes Pimenta colorida and Pimentão ornamental would be immediately discarded because their ornamental characteristics were compromised by the abscission of their leaves.…”