Regulation of Botrytis cinerea Infection and Gene Expression in Cut Roses by Using Nano Silver and Salicylic Acid

Abstract

Botrytis cinerea (B. cinerea) is one of the necrotrophic pathogens resulting in the heaviest commercial losses in cut rose flowers, and the severity of gray mold disease partly depends on the presence of ethylene during the storage and transport. The effectiveness of nano silver (NS) and salicylic acid (SA) was assessed as a novel control agent in protecting the cut rose flowers against B. cinerea infection and ethylene damages. The efficacy of NS and SA was compared with an inoculated control (CON). A non-treated control (NT) was also used to evaluate the natural infection process. The results indicated that pretreatment with 20 mg L−1 NS significantly reduced B. cinerea growth in rose petals during vase periods. NS effectively suppressed the mRNA levels of ethylene biosynthesis genes (RhACS2, RhACS4, and RhACO1) and the reduction in expression levels of ethylene receptor genes (RhETR1, RhETR2, and RhETR5) and the downstream regulator RhCTR2 in rose petals after B. cinerea inoculation. NS application also decreased the expression of the B. cinerea snod-prot-like 1 (Bcspl1) gene which acts as the virulence factor in cut roses. In NS flowers, the maximum quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm) value was higher and the leaf temperature was lower on day 1, suggesting that these factors can be used for detecting B. cinerea infection and water stress in cut rose flowers. Furthermore, NS improved water relations and extended the vase life of cut rose flowers by 3.3 d, compared with that of NT flowers. In contrast, SA had no inhibitive effects on both B. cinerea growth and ethylene response in cut roses. The findings from the present study highlight NS as a promising new candidate for preventing B. cinerea infection and ethylene damages and for improving the postharvest quality of cut roses exported overseas.

Do Eco-Friendly Floral Preservative Solutions Prolong Vase Life Better than Chemical Solutions?

“…Floral preservative solutions have generally become the best choice for growers, wholesalers, retailers, and customers in the floral industry to prolong vase life and control the quality of cut flowers [47]. Preservative solutions are commonly efficient in many ways, such as inactivating physiological processes, reducing senescence and transpiration, preventing the effects of ethylene, developing petal color, increasing bud and flower opening, preventing bacterial growth, and enhancing water uptake [14,47,48]. Preservative solutions are derived from a mixture of sugars, germicides or biocides, salts, and growth regulators.…”

“…The fresh condition of cut flowers is maintained by the use of a preservative solution, postharvest, to provide fresh flowers with a long vase life to the final customer. Each type of cut flower has a particular vase life: the short vase life group (less than 5 days) includes dahlia [1], iris [2], daffodils [3], delphinium [4], and alstroemeria [5]; the medium vase life group (6~14 days), such as protea [6], gladiolus [7], ginger [8], primrose [9], heliconia [10], marigolds [11], snapdragons [12], orchids [13], and rose [14]; and the long vase life group (2 weeks~4 weeks), such as tulips [15], anthuriums [16], carnations [17], and chrysanthemums [18].…”

Ras2 Is Responsible for the Environmental Responses, Melanin Metabolism, and Virulence of Botrytis cinerea

“…Environmental conditions play an important role in the invasion of B. cinerea. Under humid and low-temperature conditions, B. cinerea is more likely to infect host plants, causing gray mold disease in plants and causing economic losses to humans [33]. However, on humid nights and sunny days, B. cinerea may cause noble rot in overripe grapes, which is beneficial to humans [34].…”

Is It a Challenge to Use Molecular Hydrogen for Extending Flower Vase Life?

“…Floral preservative solutions have been widely used by growers, florist sellers, and customers to extend vase life and maintain the quality of cut flowers [ 9 ]. Preservative solutions have many advantages, such as reducing bacterial agents in the vase, increasing water uptake, and balancing the carbohydrate requirement for metabolic cycle activities of cut flowers [ 9 , 34 , 35 ]. Floral preservative solutions can be separated into two types: chemical solutions and eco-friendly solutions [ 8 ].…”