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Title: The Effects Of Surfactants, Mixing Time, Nozzle Types, Spray Volumes And Simulated Rain On 1-MCP Efficacy On Tomato (Lycopersicon Esculentum)

Author
item MCKINNON, DAN - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
item Shaner, Dale
item WESTRA, PHIL - Colorado State University
item NISSON, SCOTT - Colorado State University

Submitted to: Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/7/2009
Publication Date: 10/1/2009
Citation: Mckinnon, D., Shaner, D.L., Westra, P., Nisson, S. 2009. The Effects Of Surfactants, Mixing Time, Nozzle Types, Spray Volumes And Simulated Rain On 1-MCP Efficacy On Tomato (Lycopersicon Esculentum). Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science. 44(6):1600-1603.

Interpretive Summary: 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) is a plant growth regulator that is widely used in the fruit and vegetable industry to manage harvest and to maintain storage quality. 1-MCP is also being examined as a means to help agronomic crops (e.g. corn, wheat, cotton and soybeans) manage heat and water stress to reduce yield loss. This work was done to determine the effect of surfactants, spray volume, nozzle type and rainfastness on the efficacy of 1-MCP. The best surfactants were Dyne-Amic, Silwet L-77 and Herbimax. Efficacy was also increased with increasing spray volume and 1-MCP was rainfast within 15 minutes after application. These results have helped define different parameters that are important for the maximal activity of 1-MCP.

Technical Abstract: A study was conducted with a WP formulation of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP; AgroFresh, Spring House, PA) to determine the effects of surfactants, spray volume, nozzle type and rain fastness on the efficacy of 1-MCP to protect tomato plants from the epinastic effects of ethaphon. 1-MCP at 25 and 50 g ha-1 protected tomato plants from 250 and 500 g ha-1 of ethaphon. The best surfactants that were tested were Dyne-Amic (0.375% v/v), Silwet L-77 (0.125% v/v), and Herbimax (0.25% v/v). The efficacy of 1-MCP increased with an increase in spray volume from 150 L ha-1 to 400 L ha-1. There was no significant effect of spray nozzle type on 1-MCP activity. 1-MCP appeared to be rainfast within 15 min after application.