Effects of 1-MCP and Ethylene on Antioxidant Enzymes Activity and Postharvest Physio-Biochemical Characteristics of Cut Carnation Flower cv. ‘Fortune’

Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) is one of the most important cut flowers in the world. Themajority of thecarnation cultivars are sensitive to ethylene which affected the physiological and biochemical postharvest characteristics of these flowers.Applying inhibitors of biosynthesis and action of ethylene is important factor to protect the display quality and extend postharvest life. In order to evaluate the effects of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and ethylene on antioxidant enzymes activity of cut carnation cv. Fortune and subsequently on extending the vase life, this experiment was designed in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 3replications. Carnation cut flowers were firstly treated with 1-MCP at concentrations of 0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 µl/l for 24 h and  subsequently exposed to ethylene (1 µl/l) for 16 h. Data were analyzed using MSTAT-C statistical software and means were compared based on Least Significant Differences (LSD) test (p < 0.01). Our results showed that 1-MCP treatment had significant effects on vase life and biochemical characteristics like contents of leaf chlorophyll, petal anthocyanin, petal cell membrane stability and antioxidant enzymes activity such as catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase. The highest vase life and cell membrane stability were appeared in 1.5 µl/l 1-MCP which was significantly higher than 0 and 0.5 µl/l, although there was no significant difference with 1 µl. The highest chlorophyll and anthocyanin contents were also measured under 1.5 µl/l 1-MCP which was significantly higher than other treatments. The highest and lowest catalase and peroxidase activity were related to 1 and 0 µl/l 1-MCP, respectively. The highest and lowest superoxide dismutase activity was observed in 1.5 and 0 µl/l 1-MCP.  In conclusion, application of 1-MCP improved and delayed the onset of senescence symptoms resulted in extending the vase life of cut carnation cv. Fortune.