Production of volatiles in brown boronia flowers after harvest. II: Effect of oxygen consumption

Abstract

SummaryOxygen consumption in boronia flowers after harvest was correlated with production of volatiles. In some cases, exogenously applied respiratory inhibitors (NaN3, 2 mM and KCN, 100 mM and 3 mM) were not present in sufficient quantities to inhibit respiration, and yet production of volatiles was inhibited: indicating the action of cytoplasmic enzymes in the conversion of precursors into volatiles after harvest. Post-harvest respiration, whether via normal or alternative pathways, is a requirement for production of volatiles. Production of volatiles concurrent with activation of the alternative pathway may suggest that ATP may not be required. Large buds and open flowers consume three times as much oxygen as smaller buds after harvest: one reason for the reduced amounts of volatiles produced after harvest in small and medium sized buds, and in early stages of flowering.