Alleviation of Antioxidant Enzyme Activity by an Hour 0.25 mM Silver Thiosulphate Pulse Duration in Clarkia amoena

Abstract

An experiment was conducted on the excised buds of Clarkia amoena to assess the role of silver thiosulphate (STS) pulse duration on flower senescence and longevity. The flowers were harvested at one day before anthesis and immediately pulsed (1–4 h, respectively) with 0.25 mM STS. A separate set of flowers kept in distilled water designated the control. The excised buds treated with 0.25 mM STS for different durations resulted in improved flower longevity besides maintaining higher fresh mass and dry mass, water content and floral diameter except for the flowers pulsed for 4-h duration. However, a decreased level of lipid peroxidation and lipoxygenase activity was maintained in the flowers pulsed up to 3 h. STS 0.25 mM pulse treatment significantly increased activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT and APX) but only up to 3-h duration; thereafter, a sharp decrease in antioxidant enzyme activity was registered. STS 0.25 mM pulse treatment for 1 h was found to be most effective in enhancing the flower longevity along with increased floral diameter. This treatment was able to maintain the decreased lipoxygenase activity by maintaining the higher membrane stability index by improving the activities of antioxidant enzymes and hence improved flower longevity by 3 days as compared to control.