Analysis of the interference of moisture on ethylene hormone detection with a palladium complex

Ethylene is the simplest plant growth hormone which plays a key role in many physiological processes including ripening of fruit. Therefore, it is important to detect ethylene for regulating the fruit ripening process during storage, transportation and distribution. In this study, a palladium (Pd) based organic-inorganic complex was synthesized based on a method reported elsewhere [1]. This hybrid complex was processed, formulated and used for detection of ethylene hormone emitted by kiwifruit. The influences of moisture on detection of ethylene hormone were investigated using FTIR, 13 C-NMR and colorimetric analyses of the Pd-complex before and after exposure to ethylene hormone and moisture. This study indicated the colour of the dried complex changed from light yellow to darker yellow indicating there is a reaction of the air-stable Pd-complex with ethylene gas in moist conditions. However the change was greater for discs exposed to ethylene gas in a humid environment compared to a humid environment without ethylene gas.