Stress induced ethylene production, ethylene binding, and the response to the ethylene action inhibitor 1-MCP in miniature roses

In an interior environment, the display life of miniature potted roses (Rosa hybrida L.) `Bronze' was 7 days, while that of `Vanilla' was 23 days. Although there was a substantial difference in ethylene production between flowers from two cultivars, there was no difference in binding site activity (kd ˆ 0.14 nl lÿ1). Pre-treatment with the ethylene action inhibitor 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) did not have a clear effect on display life without preceding transport stress. When the plants were subjected to simulated transportation stress, post-harvest life of both cultivars was reduced (to 6 days for `Bronze', and to 17 days for `Vanilla'). In `Bronze' the stress resulted in a modest increase in ethylene production, but there was no effect of stress on the low ethylene production by `Vanilla' flowers. Nevertheless, pretreatment with 1-MCP before transport simulation improved display life of both cultivars. # 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.