Genotypic differences in post-storage photosynthesis and leaf chloroplasts in response to ethylene and 1-methylcyclopropene in Aglaonema

This study investigated the effects of ethylene in storage and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) pretreatment on post-storage leaf senescence as measured by changes in photosynthesis and chloroplast degradation of two Aglaonema cultivars. Potted plants of ‘Chalit's Fantasy’ and ‘White Tip’ with or without 1-MCP treatment (600 nL L−1 1-MCP for 6 h) were exposed to 3.0 μL L−1 ethylene, while being stored for 5 d at 16 °C in the dark, and then placed under an indoor environment for further observation. Plants that did not receive 1-MCP and ethylene served as controls. Ethylene did not affect the stomatal conductance in either cultivar. Ethylene reduced the net CO2 assimilation rate and Fv/Fm (potential photochemical efficiency of photosystem II) in ‘White Tip’, but not in ‘Chalit's Fantasy’. Chloroplast number in a palisade or spongy mesophyll cell did not differ among treatments in ‘Chalit's Fantasy’. However, ethylene-treated ‘White Tip’ had fewer chloroplasts in the mesophyll cells, had more and larger plastoglobules in the chloroplasts, and had looser granal stacking with enlarged thylakoid lumens. ‘Chalit's Fantasy’ plants that were treated with 1-MCP before exposure to ethylene had higher net CO2 assimilation rates and stomatal conductance than the control or plants that were exposed to ethylene without 1-MCP pretreatment. 1-MCP pretreatment mitigated the injurious effect of ethylene on ‘White Tip’ by increasing net CO2 assimilation rate and Fv/Fm, and maintaining the quantity and structural integrity of chloroplasts.

► Effects of ethylene and 1-MCP were studied on post-storage photosynthesis and leaf chloroplasts in two Aglaonema cultivars.
► Ethylene did not affect the stomatal conductance in both cultivars.
► Ethylene did not alter photosynthesis and structure of chloroplasts in ‘Chalit's Fantasy’.
► Ethylene-treated ‘White Tip’ had lower photosynthesis, fewer and broken chloroplasts, more and larger plastoglobules.
► 1-MCP mitigated ethylene injury on ‘White Tip’ via increased photosynthesis and maintained chloroplast number and structure.