FrangiblePack™ We developed the FrangiblePack™ technology in order to have a more user-friendly and cost-effective delivery system for delivering a gas treatment to produce and flowers which is created by a moisture activated chemical (powder) There are a number of combinations of liquids and dry chemicals that, when brought in contact with one another, release a gas to achieve a desirable effect. One example is described is U.S. Patents 6,017,849 and 6,194,350. When a cyclopropene derivative is mixed with liquid solvent a gas is released that inhibits the ethylene response in plants thus extending their shelf lives. Applications of this technology include the prolonging of the life of cut flowers. Before our FrangiblePack™ the preferred... method of delivery of this technology has been the use of an open container into which the cyclopropene derivative s poured followed by the solvent. This method allows the possibilities of dispensing too much or too little or either of the two components, spilling either or spilling the entire contents of the open container. With our FrangiblePack™ gas... is released through a gas permeable packaging material formed into a sealed bag into which has been inserted a frangible liquid filled package and a chemical. When the frangible liquid filled package is squeezed and broken the liquid contacts and reacts with the chemical to release the gas. The following is a report on the efficacy of our FrangiblePack™ as tested with a pallet of white carnations under our ThermasPallet cover. TEST: Efficacy of FrangiblePack™ Delivery System for Use with pallets staked with boxes of white carnation and covered with a ThermoPallet™ cover PURPOSE: To determine whether or not the prototype frangible pack will be an efficacious delivery system to protect carnations from ethylene damage when used with a stacked pallet of flower boxes sealed with a pallet cover CROPS: white fancy carnations TREATMENTS: 1) Control 2) 4 hour treatment with FrangiblePack™ containing Ethylbloc™ within a stacked pallet of boxes Box positions also examined Level Position Bottom of the pallet stack outside (left) Middle of the pallet stack middle Top of the pallet stack outside (right) METHODS: Flowers were obtained directly from a grower (to insure no pretreatment) and shipped FedEx. Flowers were separated into groups of nine and placed into each of nine boxes. Efficacy at three different levels (top, middle, and bottom) in the pallet stack was tested using three replication boxes at each level. After EthylBloc™ treatment, flowers from each box were placed into three vases-three stems to a vase. An untreated control will also be prepared. After placing all flowers in boxes and stacking boxes appropriately, the frangible pack was placed on top of the stack. The stack was covered with a pallet bag and sealed with tape. The FrangiblePack™ was set-off by rupturing the internal buffer solution pouch. Flowers were treated for 4 hours. At the end of 4 hours, flowers were processed and placed into buckets of Crystal Clear™ flower food. Bunches of flowers were labeled to maintain treatment integrity. All flowers were subjected to 2.0 ppm supplemental ethylene for 24 hours. Flowers were then placed in vases of Crystal Clear™ and observed for ethylene damage. CONCLUSIONS: The FrangiblePack™ delivery system worked well and resulted in an efficacious delivery of EthylBloc™. Carnation vase life was extended by 9 days over that observed in the controls. There were no differences due to position or level of the box within the pallet stack RESULTS: Vase life of the treated stems was significantly longer than that of the controls. There were no difference In vase life due to position or level of the box within the pallet stack. This suggests that EthylBloc™ gas distribution within the pallet stack was both homogeneous and efficacious. StatisticsFrangiblePack™.pdf