The role of ascorbic acid in the control of flowering time and the onset of senescence

Abstract

Ascorbic acid (AA) is not only an important antioxidant, it also appears to link flowering time, developmental senescence, programmed cell death, and responses to pathogens through a complex signal transduction network. The biological activity of AA is defined by its oxidation and subsequent regeneration into the reduced form. Some studies suggest that the total endogenous level of AA influences induction of flowering and senescence. Both processes require the co-ordinated regulation of gene expression, which is mediated by various phytohormones. For example, gibberellins and salicylic acid are known to promote flowering, but inhibit or retard senescence in Arabidopsis. Ethylene and abscisic acid accelerate senescence. Ascorbic acid serves as an important co-factor for the synthesis of some of these hormones. Therefore, it is assumed that AA affects phytohormone-mediated signalling processes during the transition from the vegetative to the reproductive phase and the final stage of development, senescence. This review summarizes recent reports that investigate the effect of AA on flowering time and the onset of senescence. An attempt was made to bring these findings in context with previously characterized flowering and senescence pathways and a model is proposed that may explain how AA influences flowering and senescence both under long- and short-day conditions in Arabidopsis.

Effect of Foliar Spray of Humic acid, Ascorbic acid, Cultivars and their Interactions on Growth of Olive (Olea European L.) Transplants cvs. Khithairy and Sorany

“…Ascorbic acid is an essential compound for plant tissues since it has antioxidant functions, and acts as co-enzyme in an enzymatic cofactor and plant growth regulator [14]. It has synergistic effect on improving growth, flowering, yield and fruit quality of fruit crops [15], [16] , [17] and [18]. [19] reported that marked in vivid coloures.…”

Expression of Sweet Potato Senescence-Associated Cysteine Proteases Affect Seed and Silique Development and Stress Tolerance in Transgenic Arabidopsis

“…However, Raper et al (1988) and Rideout et al (1992) hypothesized that floral transition is stimulated by an imbalance in the relative availability of carbohydrate and nitrogen in the shoot apical meristem. Barth et al (2006) suggest that the flowering phenotype is likely linked to the endogenous ascorbic acid content. Degradation and removal of flowering repressor(s) by ectopic SPAE expression in transgenic Arabidopsis plants provides another possibility.…”

“…The reasons and mechanisms are not clear. However, an imbalance in the relative availability of carbohydrate and nitrogen in the shoot apical meristem (Raper et al, 1988;Rideout et al, 1992), the change of endogenous ascorbic acid content (Barth et al, 2006), and possible nonspecific degradation and removal of flowering repressor(s) by ectopic SPCP2 expression are suggested.…”

Stimulatory Effect of Hormones, Vitamin C on Growth, Yield and Some Metabolic Activities of Chenopodium quinoa Plants in Egypt

“…Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) has a regulatory role in promoting productivity in many plants, Ascorbic acid acts as a cofactor for several enzymes and regulates the phytohormone-mediating signaling processes [19] and many physiological processes in plants [20,21]. Ascorbic acid is cofactors for enzyme activity, and effects on plant antioxidation capacity, heavy metal evacuation and detoxification and stress defense [22].…”