INHIBITORS OF ETHYLENE ACTION AFFECT FINAL QUALITY AND ROOTING OF CUTTINGS BEFORE AND AFTER STORAGE

Vegetative cuttings of three species, Dendranthema grandiflorum (Ramat .) Kitamura, Pelargonium zonale L., and Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L., wer e treated with 1-MCP or STS to determine the effect of inhibition of t he action of ethylene on quality and rooting ability both without and with storage. Storage decreased quality of Pelargonium and Hibiscus cu ttings, causing leaf yellowing and chlorophyll degradation. No leaf ye llowing was detected in Dendranthema cuttings, regardless of treatment . Storage inhibited rooting of the cuttings, particularly in Pelargoni um, where rooting was halved. Chemical inhibition of ethylene action r etarded storage-induced leaf yellowing, but also reduced rooting abili ty both in fresh and stored cuttings. Chemical names used: 1-methylcyc lopropene (1-MCP); silver thiosulfate (STS).