Abscission of Control Pollinated Coconut Fruits: Preliminary Investigations into the Possible Role of Ethylene
Keywords:
Control Pollination, AVG, Bagging, Abscission, Ethylene, Control pollination, AVG
Abstract
Recent advances in the spread of the Cape St Paul Wilt disease (CSPWD) necessitate a more rapid development of tolerant coconut types. Control pollination is the main method for producing legitimate coconut seeds for such breeding purposes. However, the process of bagging causes severe nut drop or abscission. Many scientists have implicated hormones as the primary regulators of organ abscission; with ethylene being particularly implicated. Unlike other plant hormones, which are mainly produced in other parts and transported to influence target organs, the production of ethylene could be initiated within the same organ, such as the fruit. This study was therefore undertaken to investigate the possible involvement of ethylene in abscission after control pollination. Pollen from Vanuatu Tall (VTT) variety was used to cross emasculated Malayan Yellow Dwarf (MYD) inflorescence after isolation with bags. Trials were laid out in Completely Randomised and Split Plot designs, with specified replications. Two ethylene inhibitors, namely aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) and silver thiosulphate (STS) were used. Five concentrations of AVG ranging from 2mg/l to 30mg/l were applied to inflorescences during and after bagging. AVG concentrations higher than 2 mg/l resulted in significant reduction in abscission. Fruit yields up to five times that of ordinarily bagged treatments without AVG were recorded. Four concentrations of STS ranging between 0.5mM – 10mM applied in similar manner, however, did not result in any significant reduction in abscission. The results from AVG application strongly suggest the involvement of ethylene in the abscission of control pollinated coconut fruits.
References
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Rath, A., Kang, I.-K., Park, C.-H., Yoo, W.-J. and Byun, J.-K. 2006. Foliar application of aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) delays fruit ripening and reduces pre-harvest fruit drop and ethylene production of bagged “Kogetsu” apples. Plant Growth Regulation, 50: 91-100.
Reid, M.S. 1985. Ethylene and abscission. Hortural Science 20: 45-50.
Ronen, M. and Mayak, S. 1981. Interrelationship between abscisic acid and ethylene in the control of senescence processes in carnation flowers. Journal of Experimental Botany, 32: 759-765.
Roper, T.R. 2005. Plant growth regulator use in apples. Cooperative Extension Publishing, University of Wisconsin-Extension- (A3524). [On line at http://learningstore.uwex.edu/Accessed 3rd March 2006].
Ror, W.C. 1987. Antiethylene properties of AgNO3 and 2,5-norbornadiene in light and dark in Vigna. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation 6: 41-56.
Saltveit, M.E. 2005. Aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) reduces ethylene and protein biosynthesis in excised discs of mature-green tomato pericarp tissue. Postharvest biology and technology, 35: 183-190.
Saupe, S.G. 2007. Plant Physiology (Biology 327): Lecture notes on ethylene. [On line at http://www.employees.csbsju.edu/ ssaupe /index.html Accessed 25th April 2007].
Schupp, J.R. and Greene, D.W. 2004. Effect of aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) on preharvest drop, fruit quality, and maturation of 'McIntosh' apples I: Concentration and timing of dilute applications of AVG. HortScience, 39: 1030-1035.
Sexton, R., Lewis, L.N., Trewavas, A.K. and Kelly, P. 1985. Ethylene and abscission. In: J.A. Roberts and G. TuckerEds. Ethylene and plant development. Butterworths London, 173-196.
Sexton, R., Porter, A.E., Littlejohns, S. and Thain, S.C. 1995. Effects of Diazocyclopentadiene (DACP) and Silver Thiosulphate (STS) on Ethylene Regulated Abscission of Sweet Pea Flowers (Lathyrus odoratus L.) Annals of Botany. 75: 337-342.
Sigma-Aldrich Co. 2005. Silver thiosulphate solution; preparation and storage, In: Tissue Culture Protocols [On line at http://www.sigmaaldrich.com Accessed 15th June 2005].
Sisler, E.C. Reid, M.S. and Fujino, D.W. 1983. Investigation of the mode of action of ethylene in carnation senescence. Acta Horticulturae, 141: 229-234.
Tamas, I.A., Wallace, D.H., Ludford, P.M. and Ozbun, J.L. 1979. Effect of older fruits on abortion and abscisic acid concentration of younger fruits in Phaseolus vulgaris L. Plant Physiology 64: 620–622.
Thanh-Tuyen, N.T. 1990. Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) anther culture. In: YPS Bajaj, eds. Biotechnology in Agriculture and Forestry Vol. 10: Legumes and Oilseed Crops I, Berlin: Springer-Verlag. Vol. 10: 555 – 568.
Van Meeteren, U. and Van Gelder, H. 1995. Role of flower buds in flower bud abscission in Hibiscus. Acta Horticulturae, 405: 284–289.
Veen, N.H. 1986. A theoretical model for the ant-ethylene effects of silver thiosulphate and 2,5-norbonadiene. Acta Horticulturae, 181: 129-134.
Blake, J. 1990. Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.). In: Y.P.S. Bajaj Eds. Biotechnology in Agriculture and Forestry. Legumes and Oilseed Crops I. Berlin: Springer-Verlag. Vol. 10: 538 – 554.
Blake, J. 1995. A Brief History of Coconut Tissue Culture. In Oropeza C, Howard F.W. and Ashburner G.R. Eds. Lethal Yellowing: Research and Practical Aspects. Kluwer Academic Publishers: 195-201.
Bourdeix, R. 1999. Selection and Breeding. In J.G Ohler Eds. Modern Coconut Management: Palm Cultivation and Products. Int. Tech. Publications, FAO of the U.N. Universiteit Leiden. 117–195.
Branton, R.L. and Blake, J. 1983. Development of organized structures in callus derived from explants of Cocos nucifera L. Annals of Botany, 52: 673–678.
Burdon, J.N. and Sexton, R. 1993. Ethylene coordinates petal abscission in red raspberry. Annals of Botany, 72:289-294.
Child, R.D., Chauvaux, N., John, K., Ulvskov, P. and Van Onckelen, H.A. 1998. Ethylene biosynthesis in oilseed rape pods in relation to pod shatter. Journal of Experimental Botany, 49: 829–838.
Cronje, P.J.R., Crouch, E.M. and Huysamer, M. 2005. Postharvest Calyx Retention of Citrus Fruit. Proceedings of the ISHS 5th International Postharvest Symposium. Verona, Italy. F. Mencarelli and P. Tonutti Eds. Acta Horticulturae, 682: 369-376.
Dery, S.K., Nipah, J.O., Ando-Mensah, E., Nuertey, B.N., Nkansah Poku, J., Arthur, R and Philippe, R. 2005. On-farm evaluation of the coconut hybrid, Malayan yellow dwarf x Vanuatu tall for tolerance to the lethal yellowing disease of coconut in Ghana. Cord, 21: 50-56.
Gianfagna, T.J. 1987. Natural and synthetic growth regulators and their use in horticultural and agronomic crops. In Davies P.J. Eds. Plant hormones and their role in plant growth and development. Martinus Nijhoff Publ. 604–635.
Greene, D.W. 2005. Time of aminoethoxyvinylglycine application influences preharvest drop and fruit quality of 'Mcintosh' apples. HortScience, 40: 2056-2060.
Greene, D.W. 2006. An update on preharvest drop control of apples with aminoethoxyvinylglycine (retain). Acta Hort. (ISHS) 727:311-320. [Online at http://www.actahort.org/books/727/727_37.htm Accessed 2nd February 2007].
Hunter, D.A., Ferrante, A., Vernieri, P. and Reid, M.S. 2004. Role of abscissic acid in parianth senescence of daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus ‘Dutch Master’). Physiological Plantarum, 121: 313-321.
Kimball, J. W. 2006. Auxin. Biology Pages, [On line at http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma. ultranet/BiologyPages/A/Auxin.html Accessed 5th February 2007].
Kostenyuk, I.A. and Burns, J.K. 2004. Mechanical wounding and abscission in citrus. Physiologia Plantarum, 122: 354-361.
Kushad, M.M. and Poovaiah, B.W. 1984. Deferral of senescence and abscission by chemical inhibition of ethylene synthesis and action in bean explants. Plant Physiology, 76:293-6.
Meakin, P.J. and Roberts, J.A. 1990. Dehiscence of fruit of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.). II. The role of cell wall degrading enzymes and ethylene. Journal of Experimental Botany, 41: 1003–1011.
Muller, R., Stummann, B.M., Andersen, A.S. and Serek, M. 1999. Involvement of ABA in post harvest life of miniature potted roses. Plant Growth Regulation, 29: 143-150.
Nipah, J.O. 2000. Some Characteristics of the Sri Lanka Green Dwarf (SGD): a variety resistant to the Cape Saint Paul Wilt disease of Coconut. Journal of the Ghana Science Association, 2: 88 – 93.
Nipah, J.O., Safo-Kantanka, O. and Dickinson, M.J. 2009. Abscission of control pollinated coconut fruits: Assessing the effects of micro environmental changes during bagging. Paper presented at the 26th Biennial Conference of the Ghana Science Association (GSA), University of Cape Coast, 4th – 9th August 2009
Osborne, D.J. 1991. Ethylene in leaf ontogeny and abscission. In: A. K. Matoo and J. C. Suttle Eds. The plant hormone ethylene. Boka Raton, Florida: CRC Press. 194-294.
Pannetier, C. and Buffard-Morel, J. 1986. Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera L.). In: Bajaj Y.P.S. Eds. Biotechnology in Agriculture and Forestry. Trees, Berlin: Springer-Verlag. Vol. 1: 430 – 450.
Rath, A., Kang, I.-K., Park, C.-H., Yoo, W.-J. and Byun, J.-K. 2006. Foliar application of aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) delays fruit ripening and reduces pre-harvest fruit drop and ethylene production of bagged “Kogetsu” apples. Plant Growth Regulation, 50: 91-100.
Reid, M.S. 1985. Ethylene and abscission. Hortural Science 20: 45-50.
Ronen, M. and Mayak, S. 1981. Interrelationship between abscisic acid and ethylene in the control of senescence processes in carnation flowers. Journal of Experimental Botany, 32: 759-765.
Roper, T.R. 2005. Plant growth regulator use in apples. Cooperative Extension Publishing, University of Wisconsin-Extension- (A3524). [On line at http://learningstore.uwex.edu/Accessed 3rd March 2006].
Ror, W.C. 1987. Antiethylene properties of AgNO3 and 2,5-norbornadiene in light and dark in Vigna. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation 6: 41-56.
Saltveit, M.E. 2005. Aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) reduces ethylene and protein biosynthesis in excised discs of mature-green tomato pericarp tissue. Postharvest biology and technology, 35: 183-190.
Saupe, S.G. 2007. Plant Physiology (Biology 327): Lecture notes on ethylene. [On line at http://www.employees.csbsju.edu/ ssaupe /index.html Accessed 25th April 2007].
Schupp, J.R. and Greene, D.W. 2004. Effect of aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) on preharvest drop, fruit quality, and maturation of 'McIntosh' apples I: Concentration and timing of dilute applications of AVG. HortScience, 39: 1030-1035.
Sexton, R., Lewis, L.N., Trewavas, A.K. and Kelly, P. 1985. Ethylene and abscission. In: J.A. Roberts and G. TuckerEds. Ethylene and plant development. Butterworths London, 173-196.
Sexton, R., Porter, A.E., Littlejohns, S. and Thain, S.C. 1995. Effects of Diazocyclopentadiene (DACP) and Silver Thiosulphate (STS) on Ethylene Regulated Abscission of Sweet Pea Flowers (Lathyrus odoratus L.) Annals of Botany. 75: 337-342.
Sigma-Aldrich Co. 2005. Silver thiosulphate solution; preparation and storage, In: Tissue Culture Protocols [On line at http://www.sigmaaldrich.com Accessed 15th June 2005].
Sisler, E.C. Reid, M.S. and Fujino, D.W. 1983. Investigation of the mode of action of ethylene in carnation senescence. Acta Horticulturae, 141: 229-234.
Tamas, I.A., Wallace, D.H., Ludford, P.M. and Ozbun, J.L. 1979. Effect of older fruits on abortion and abscisic acid concentration of younger fruits in Phaseolus vulgaris L. Plant Physiology 64: 620–622.
Thanh-Tuyen, N.T. 1990. Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) anther culture. In: YPS Bajaj, eds. Biotechnology in Agriculture and Forestry Vol. 10: Legumes and Oilseed Crops I, Berlin: Springer-Verlag. Vol. 10: 555 – 568.
Van Meeteren, U. and Van Gelder, H. 1995. Role of flower buds in flower bud abscission in Hibiscus. Acta Horticulturae, 405: 284–289.
Veen, N.H. 1986. A theoretical model for the ant-ethylene effects of silver thiosulphate and 2,5-norbonadiene. Acta Horticulturae, 181: 129-134.
Published
2010-10-01
How to Cite
Nipah, J. O., Safo-Kantanka, O., & Dickinson, M. J. (2010). Abscission of Control Pollinated Coconut Fruits: Preliminary Investigations into the Possible Role of Ethylene. CORD, 26(2), 24-35. https://doi.org/10.37833/cord.v26i2.128
Section
Articles
