There is limited information about the postharvest performance and physiology of Mokara orchid cut flowers, which are a special group of artificially created trigenetic hybrids of Vanda × Arachnis × Ascocentrum. Therefore, we first characterized the patterns of various physiological parameters during vase life of five Mokara hybrids, which differ in their longevity. Then, we examined the effects of ethephon and ethylene inhibitors on these physiological parameters, and on parameters of the ethylene biosynthesis pathway, during vase life of two selected Mokara hybrids, “Moo-deang” and “Dao-lai”, which showed significant differences in their vase life duration and senescence symptoms. The results demonstrate that the differences in vase life longevity among the five Mokara hybrids are due to differences in their ethylene production rates, which regulate flower development processes expressed in bud opening and floret senescence. The results clearly show that ethylene is involved in the regulation of the Mokara flower senescence, and pretreatment with ethylene inhibitors significantly improved their vase life longevity. Thus, ethylene seems to be the main factor that determines the longevity differences of the Mokara hybrids, rather than their water relations parameters. This study can serve as a research tool for developing effective postharvest treatments for Mokara hybrids.

The effect of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) on anthracnose severity and physical and chemical properties of mango fruit cv. Nam Dok Mai was investigated. The mango fruit were harvested at the mature-green stage and the fruit surface was disinfected with 100 ppm sodium hypochlorite solution. The fruit samples were then fumigated with 30 ppm MeJA in an enclosed container at 25 °C for 6 h, and subsequently stored at 13 °C for 18 days. Non-treated fruit were used as the control. The results showed that MeJA had no effect on anthracnose severity, stem end rot disease and color change. MeJA treatment induced ethylene production and enhanced the accumulation of β-carotene content throughout the storage period compared with non-treated fruit. This result indicated that MeJA treatment may be used to increase the accumulation of β-carotene content of mango fruit during storage at low temperature.

ISHS II Asian Horticultural Congress Effect of neutral electrolyte water and sugar on reducing microbial load in the vase solution of Dendrobium 'Burana Jade' orchid flowers