Comparison of cyclopropene, 1-methylcyclopropene, and 3,3-dimethylcyclopropene as ethylene antagonists in plants

Abstract

A comparison has been made of cyclopropene (CP), 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), and 3,3-dimethylcyclopropene (3,3-DMCP) in their ability to protect plants against ethylene. In bananas, both CP and 1-MCP are effective around 0.5 nL L-1, and 3,3-DMCP was effective at 1 μL L-1. Bananas treated with CP and 1-MCP again become sensitive to ethylene at 12 days and those treated with 3,3-DMCP at 7 days. Mature green tomatoes are protected by 5-7 nL L-1 of 1-MPC for 8 days at 25°C and tomatoes treated with 3,3-DMCP at 5-10 μL L-1 are protected for 5 days. Carnation flowers are protected with CP or 1-MCP after exposure to 0.5 nL L-1 for 24 hours and by 1 μL L-1 of 3,3-DMCP. The display life of Campanula flowers is increased from 3.3 to 5.4 days by 10 μL L-1 of 3,3-DMCP and to 9 days by 20 nL L-1 of 1-MCP. Ethylene inhibition of pea seedlings is reduced by treatment with 1-MCP at 10 μL L-1 of ethylene but as ethylene is increased to 3000 μL L-1 growth inhibition increases. 3,3-DMCP treatment causes very little reduction of the ethylene effect even at very low concentrations. © 1996 Kluwer Academic Publishers.