Effect of 3-cyclopropyl-1-enlyl-propanoic acid sodium salt, a novel water soluble antagonist of ethylene action, on plant responses to ethylene

A novel water soluble inhibitor of ethylene action, 3-cyclopropyl-1-enyl-propanoic acid sodium salt [(CPAS) Patent Application number: PCT/IL2008/000995, US Application number 61/144758, International publication number: WO 2009/010981 AI] was synthesized in a highly purified form, and its effect to retard various exogenous or endogenous ethylene-mediated processes was tested. The inhibitor was applied by loading, dipping or spraying. CPAS retarded some ripening processes in avocado, banana, and peach fruit, delayed abscission of citrus leaf explants, inhibited leaf epinasty in tomato seedlings, and prolonged the vase-life of carnation and petunia flowers. The fact that CPAS is a solid, water soluble, non-phytotoxic, and odorless inhibitor of ethylene action renders it a promising candidate for pre- and post-harvest application in a wide rang of open growing environments.