What is the effect of ethylene treatment on the physiological characteristics of ginger?

Ginger germination is a process in which stored substances are decomposed by respiration and metabolism to produce new substances and energy for germination. Therefore, the respiration intensity of ginger and the activity of related enzymes have an important relationship with germination. The results showed that the respiratory intensity of ginger increased with the increase of seed soaking concentration of ethephon from sowing to emergence, which indicated that seed soaking with ethephon could effectively improve the respiratory intensity of ginger. Strong breathing can provide a lot of energy and metabolic intermediates for the germination of ginger, which is conducive to promoting the germination of ginger.

Amylase can convert starch in ginger into maltose, which can be transferred from storage site to growth site, and can be used as living and structural substances of cells and tissues, and part of it can be converted into energy needed for germination through respiration. Therefore, amylase activity is strong, which is beneficial to the germination of ginger buds. The amylase activity of ginger seeds soaked with ethephon was significantly enhanced during germination. 25 days after sowing, the treatments of 250, 500 and 750 mg/L were 59.65438 0%, 89.65438 0% and 204.3% higher than the control, respectively. The results showed that ethephon had a strong promoting effect on the amylase activity of ginger.

Soaking the seeds with 250 ~ 500mg/L ethephon can make the root system of ginger plants developed and robust, which shows the increase of root weight, bleeding volume and root activity (Figure 4- 13, Figure 4- 14). It can be seen that soaking seeds with suitable concentration of ethephon can enhance the ability of ginger roots to absorb nutrients and water in the soil, provide more water and mineral nutrients for plant growth, and lay a material foundation for further improving rhizome yield. From Table 4- 16, it can be seen that after soaking seeds with 250 mg/L and 500 mg/L ethephon, the nitrogen absorption per plant of ginger is 67. 1% and 46.3% higher than that of the control, the phosphorus absorption is 57.5% and 40.5% higher, and the potassium absorption is 52.4% and 36.3% higher, respectively. Therefore, the concentration of seed soaking with ethephon is 250 ~ 500 mg/L.

Fig. 4- 13 Effect of Seed Soaking with Ethephon on Root Activity of Ginger

Fig. 4- 14 Effect of seed soaking with ethephon on dry weight and activity of ginger root system.

Table 4- 16 Effect of Seed Soaking with Ethephon on Absorption of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium in Ginger

After soaking seeds with 250 ~ 500 mg/L ethephon, the chlorophyll content and photosynthetic rate of leaves increased significantly, indicating that soaking seeds with suitable concentration of ethephon can obviously improve the photosynthesis of ginger, and it can still maintain a high level in the later stage. If the concentration is too high, the chlorophyll content and photosynthetic rate will decrease, and the rate of decline will be accelerated in the later growth stage, indicating that if the concentration is too high, the plant will decline prematurely, which is not conducive to the formation and accumulation of assimilation products (Figure 4- 15 and Figure 4- 16).

Fig. 4- 15 Effect of Seed Soaking with Ethephon on Chlorophyll Content in Ginger Leaves

Fig. 4- 16 Effect of Seed Soaking with Ethephon on Photosynthetic Rate of Ginger

Soaking seeds with 250 ~ 500 mg/L ethephon is beneficial to increase the stomatal opening of ginger leaves and enhance transpiration. The activity of nitrate reductase, the key enzyme of nitrogen metabolism, is greatly improved, which is beneficial to improve the ability of plants to absorb water and mineral nutrients and plays an important role in improving the water and nutritional status of ginger. If seeds are soaked with 750 mg/L ethephon, the stomatal resistance of leaves is greater than that of the control, water-gas exchange is blocked, transpiration is weakened, water and nutrition in the body are poor, and nitrate reductase activity is low, that is, under the same water and nitrogen supply conditions, water deficit is serious and nitrogen transformation is slow.