Effect of aminooxyacetic acid (AOA) on ACS and ACO genes expression and the vase life of alstroemeria cut flower

Abstract

Aging in the limbs is divided into two categories: ethylene-sensitive limbs, and ethylene-insensitive limbs. Extracellular synthesis of ethylene in the first group is carried out through a specific biochemical pathway that results from flower development and pollination. The present study aims to explore the effects of aminooxyacetic acid (AOA) on the expression of ethylene biosynthesis pathway genes (1-aminocyclopropane-1- carboxylate synthase (ACS) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase (ACO)) and the vase life of the Alstroemeria cut flowers ‘Mayfair’ and ‘Frosty’ varieties. Also, the effect of AOA on at the rates of 0, 50, 100 and 150 mg/l was studied on the morphological and physiological traits. The comparison of the vase life of Mayfair and Frosty showed that Frosty had a longer vase life than Mayfair. Frosty exhibited lower levels of cell degradation, higher relative water content, more chlorophyll content, more total soluble solids, and higher peroxidase level than Mayfair. Higher AOA levels were significantly associated with higher activity of catalase and peroxidase, so that the 150 mg/l AOA had the greatest effect on the activity of these two enzymes. Also, the increase in AOArate to 150 mg/l resulted in the retention of leaf chlorophyll and the reduction of leaf chlorosis percentage in both studied varieties.The results indicated that the highest ACO and ACS gene transcripts were related to the 7th flower opening stage. The use of AOA was effective in reducing the gene expression in Frosty. Also, the application of 150 mg/l AOA had a significant reducing effect on the expression of the ACS gene in Frosty.