Expt 4: Duration of 1-methylcyclopropene treatment effects. The duration that 1-MCP gas and sachet treatments could protect sensitive potted foliage plants against ethylene during a simulated shipment was determined. Aphelandra squarrosa ‘Dania’ plants were treated with 0 (control) or 0.9 mLL–1 1-MCP for 5 h at 21 C and then packed into boxes as outlined in Expts. 2 and 3. EthylBloc sachets were included in half of the boxes holding control plants as described in Expt. 3. One box per treatment was used. Plants in boxes were maintained for 3 and 7 d at 15 C in the dark to simulate short- and long-term shipment,respectively, as in Expt. 3. Plants were randomly sampled from boxes on Days 3 and 7 after 1-MCP pre-treatments and exposed to 0 or 1 mLL–1 ethylene for 4 d at 21 C in the dark as described in Expt. 1. Seven replicate plants were used for each treatment and
sampling time combination. After ethylene treatment, plants were maintained for evaluation at 21 C as per Expt. 1.