Effects of nanosponges including new anti-ethylene compounds on post harvest longevity of cut flowers and of nanosponges including phytohormones on in vitro regeneration of ornamental species

Nanosponges can favour the gradual release of molecules in an extended time, increasing the bio availability and the action of preservative substances and phytoregulators, reducing the usually adopted high concentrations. In floriculture, it has been recently developed and proposed for delivering anti-ethylene compounds in order to improve the vase-life of cut flowers. Furthermore, nanosponges could be used to improve the in vitro propagation of ornamental species. The present study valued the effects of nanosponges including new anti-ethylene compounds on post-harvest longevity of the cut flowers and of nanosponges including phytohormones on in vitro regeneration of ornamental species. Concerning the post-harvest longevity, nanosponges with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), 1-methylcyclopentene, 2.5-norbornadiene (2.5-NBD) and silver thiosulfate (STS) were evaluated in Dhiantus caryophyllus ‘Idra di Muraglia’ and Ranunculus asiaticus ‘Elegance’. In carnation, 1-methylcyclopropene-nanosponge complex added to tap water extended the cut flower longevity up to 23 days, compared to the control (11 days). Ranunculus well answered to 2.5-NBD treatment with a mean longevity of 17.9 days, compared to 9.8 days of the control in tap water. In vitro regeneration experiments provided for the inclusion of 1-naphtaleneacetic acid (NAA; 2 mg/L and 0.2 mg/L) and 4-(3-indolylbutiric) acid (IBA; 2 mg/L and 0.2 mg/L) in nanosponges applied in MurashigeSkoog (MS0) substrate on explants of Passiflora umbilicata and Passiflora cirrhiflora. The NAA-nanosponge complex significantly improved root development (a mean number of 6.32 roots/plant) of P. cirrhiflora explants, compared with control containing NAA not included (1.5 roots/plant).