Calcium regulation of senescence in rose petals

Abstract

Rose plants grown at high relative humidity (RH) produce flowers with a shorter vase life than those grown at low RH. The calcium content of the former is lower than that of the latter. The present study was conducted to examine the possible involvement of calcium in the regulation of rose flower senescence. In whole cut flowers and in detached petals of cvs Mercedes and Baroness, CaCl2 treatment promoted bud‐opening and delayed senescence. The treated flowers stayed turgid and continued their initial postharvest growth for longer periods of time. The membrane protein content in detached petals decreased with time, in parallel to the decline in membrane phospholipids (PLs). Calcium treatment delayed the decrease in both membrane proteins and PL and increased ATPase activity in the aging petals. Electrolyte leakage, which is a reliable indicator of petal‐membrane senescence, was postponed in calcium‐treated flowers. Calcium treatments also sukppressed ethylene production with age. We suggest that the calcium‐induced delay in rose petal senescence involves the protection of membrane proteins and PLs from degradation, thus preserving the integrity of the membranes, reducing ethylene production, and hence maintaining solute transport and tissue vitality.

Nutrition of Substrate-Grown Plants

“…For example, the recommended optimal EC values for anthurium (Anthurium) are 0.7 and 1.0 dS m −1 in the applied solution and the drainage water, respectively (Sonneveld and Voogt, 1993). Pre-and post-harvest application of calcium improved the quality and vase-life of cut flowers such as gerbera (Gerasopoulos and Chebli, 1999) and rose (Halevy and Mayak, 1981;Michalczuk et al, 1989;Starkey and Pedersen, 1997;Torre et al, 1999Torre et al, , 2001Bar-Tal et al, 2001c). Baas et al (1995) found that salinity reduced the yield and quality of carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) and gerbera flowers.…”

Effects of Trehalose on Flower Senescence from the View Point of Physical States of Water.

“…In petals of a cut rose flower, membrane fluidity gradually decreased with age (Itzhaki et al, 1990). A similar symptom has been described in many studies of flower senescence (Borochov and Woodson, 1989;Torre et al, 1999). They revealed that a decline in membrane fluidity occurred leading to saturation of fatty acid components in the biomembranes.…”

“…Flower senescence is accompanied by an increased respiration activity in daylily and chrysanthemum petals (Bieleski and Reid, 1992;Elanchezhian and Srivastava, 2001), a decreased protein content or an increased protease activity in daylily, rose, Sander sonia aurantiacaca and Alstroemera sp. petals (Guerrero et al, 1998;Torre et al, 1999;Eason et al, 2002;Wagstaff et al, 2002) and reduced lipid fluidity of the membranes in rose (Itzhaki et al, 1990;Torre et al, 1999). Furthermore, Borochov et al (1997) suggested a decline in the content of membrane components such as phospholipids in petunia flower senescence.…”

Evaluation of Pre- or Postharvest Application of Some Minerals and Organic Agents on the Growth, Flowering and Vase Life of Rudbeckia hirta, L.

“…Bacterial population in carnation stem or vase solution which cause xylem blockage and increase ethylene production, might be greatly susceptible to CaCl 2 . In addition, calcium ion affect ethylene action on cell membrane by inhibiting ion leakage and reducing the effect of ethylene on senescence (Torre et al, 1999). Ichimura et al (2001) that addition calcium chloride to the preservative solution increases the vase life, promotes flower opening.…”

“…The other treatments recorded an intermediate protein contents compared to control. Calcium chloride delays protein and phospholipid destruction in the petal membranes and eliminates ethylene production (Torre et al, 1999). Ni has beneficial influence on rigidity of protein structures which might increase the total resistance of plants against senescence (Wood & Reilly, 2007).…”