Increasing Postharvest Longevity and Improving Physiological Characteristics of Cut Flowers Dianthus caryophyllus cv. Fortune by Applying 1-MCP

The effects of 1-MCP and ethylene on the display quality and vase life of Dianthus caryophyllus cv. Fortune were investigated. Cut flowers were treated with 1-MCP at different concentrations (0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 µl l-1) for 24 h and then exposed to 1 µl l-1 ethylene for 16 h. The results showed that 1-MCP had significant effect on the physiological characteristics such as total postharvest longevity, vase life, uptake of vase solution and relative fresh weight of cut carnation flowers. 1-MCP treatment did not show significant effect on flower diameter, although the effects of treatment over time, was significant (P < 0.01). Maximum postharvest longevity and vase life were observed in samples treated with 1.5 µl l-1 1-MCP. The results showed that treatment by 1.5 µl l-1 1-MCP as a suppression of ethylene action improved physiological characteristics and quality of post-harvest cut flowers of carnation cv. Fortune.