Abstract:

The effects of different concentrations of sodium hypochlorite solution(NaOCl) on the germination and hormone metabolism of Chinese Chestnut（Castanea mollissima） during shelflife were investigated. The results showed that the germination of the chestnut treated with 5 000 mg·L^-1 NaOCl was completely inhibited, whereas treatments with 1 000 mg·L^-1 and 3 000 mg·L^-1 NaOCl did not significantly affect the germination, compared with the control. Treatments with 1 000 mg·L^-1and 3 000 mg·L^-1NaOCl reduced the respiration rate of the chestnut during whole shelflife, while the respiration rate of chestnut treated by 5 000 mg·L^-1NaOCl increased in the first 3 days, and declined after then. The effect of NaOCl treatment on the four endogenous plant hormones depended mainly on the concentrations. Compared with control, treatment with 1 000 mg·L^-1 NaOCl reduced the ABA, GA3and IAA content in the chestnut, and delayed appearance of the peak of IAA and ZR content. Concentration of 3 000 mg·L^-1NaOCl watercuring decreased the ABA content and increased the other three hormones contents. Treatment with 5 000 mg·L^-1 NaOCl increased all the four endogenous plant hormones contents. Moreover, NaOCl treatment reduced the ABA/GA3 and ABA/IAA ratio, and delayed the appearance of the peaks. While treatment with 1 000mg·L^-1 and 3 000 mg· L^-1 NaOCl decreased the ABA/ZR ratio in the chestnut, concentration of 5 000 mg·L^-1 NaOCl increased the ratio of ABA/ZR.

Key words: chestnut, selflife, hydronitrogen, germination, hormone