@inproceedings{1f87dd2819a54c1aaa4cb6314a6ef6bd,
title = "Effect of octanoic acid on ethylene sensitivity of Dutch Iris bulbs",
abstract = "Exposure of Dutch iris (Iris x hollandica Hoog. cv. 'Sapphire Beauty') bulbs to ethylene prior to precooling stimulated flowering in bulbs of various sizes. In large sized bulbs exposure to ethylene followed by precooling resulted in 100% flowering over a five month period after planting. Flowering in control bulbs which were not treated with ethylene prior to precooling was limited to 67% during the same period. In medium sized bulbs flowering in the ethylene treatment was 90% compared to 75% in the control. However, the biggest stimulation of flowering by ethylene was found in small sized bulbs. Treatment with short-chain saturated fatty acids such as octanoic acid, is known to increase ethylene sensitivity in various plant tissues and enhances the effect of ethylene in ethylene responsive developmental processes such as flower senescence, fruit ripening and seed germination. Application of octanoic acid for a short time period prior to exposure to ethylene stimulated flowering in all bulb sizes when compared to bulbs exposed to ethylene only. After five months the final percentage flowering in large and medium sized bulbs of the octanoic acid plus ethylene treatment did not differ from that of the ethylene only treatment. However, the initial rate of flowering was higher in the former treatment. In small bulbs the percentage flowering was much higher in the octanoic acid plus ethylene treatment than in the ethylene only treatment. The results of this study indicate that, just as in certain flowers, fruit and seeds, treatment with octanoic acid stimulates ethylene sensitivity in Dutch iris bulbs. The sensitivity of untreated bulbs to ethylene was highest in large bulbs and lowest in small bulbs. This correlated well with the endogenous octanoic acid content of the bulbs. Octanoic acid levels were highest in large bulbs and lowest in small bulbs. It appears that the levels of octanoic acid in the bulbs is determined prior to the onset of dormancy.",
author = "Whitehead, {C. S.} and Botha, {M. L.} and Halevy, {A. H.}",
year = "1997",
month = dec,
day = "1",
doi = "10.17660/ActaHortic.1997.430.10",
language = "English",
isbn = "9789066058194",
series = "Acta Horticulturae",
publisher = "International Society for Horticultural Science",
pages = "89--94",
booktitle = "Acta Horticulturae",
address = "Belgium",
}