Abstract

PEREZ-ARIAS, Gloria Alicia; ALIA-TEJACAL, Irán; COLINAS-LEON, María Teresa  and  VALDEZ AGUILAR, Luis Alonso. Mechanical damage due to compression in tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa). Rev. Mex. Cienc. Agríc [online]. 2016, vol.7, n.1, pp.103-113. ISSN 2007-0934.

‘Perla’ tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) sprigs were harvested with two open flower buds. They were submitted to compression treatments with 70, 140, and 210 Pa; subsequently, a 20% sucrose pulse solution treatment was applied alongside an Ethylbloc® treatment (1 bag with 0.014% active ingredient (1-MCP)) for 24 h. Some physiological changes were evaluated (CO2 and ethylene production indices, water consumption, and relative fresh weight) in the flower vase over the course of six days. Furthermore, two groups of tuberose sprigs were formed, compression not being applied to either. The first group received pulse solution whereas the second group did not, the latter being the control group. The tuberose sprigs showed increases in the respiration speed and ethylene production similar to climacteric flowers. The sprigs subjected to compression above 70 Pa showed between 31 and 47% greater respiration speed and between 26 and 29% greater ethylene production compared to the sprigs that received the control treatment. The percentage for the initial weight (7 and 11.5%) and water consumption (21 and 71%) was significantly greater in the flowers subjected to compression compared to the control group. It can be concluded then that the mechanical damage due to compression increases ethylene production and respiration speed, and also increases the percentage of water consumption and relative weight. These factors can influence the abscission and opening of the flowers of the tuberose sprigs.

Keywords : Polianthes tuberosa; ethylene; respiration; water consumption.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in English | Spanish     · English ( pdf ) | Spanish ( pdf )