Lanthanum Prolongs Vase Life of Cut Tulip Flowers by Increasing Water Consumption and Concentrations of Sugars, Proteins and Chlorophylls

Fernando Carlos Gómez-Merino,Libia Iris Trejo-Téllez,Maribel Ramírez-Martínez,Ana María Castillo-González

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-61200-1

Fernando Carlos Gómez-Merino, Libia Iris Trejo-Téllez + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-61200-1

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Abstract

We evaluated the effect of separately adding two sources of lanthanum (La), LaCl3 and La(NO3)3 × 6H2O at a concentration of 40 µM each, to the preservative solution of 15 cut tulip flower varieties. Ascorbic acid (AsA; 0.2 g/L) was used as a reference solution, while distilled water was used as control. The variety Laura Fygi recorded the longest vase life with 13 days. The highest water consumption per gram of stem fresh biomass weight (FBW) (2.5 mL) was observed in the variety Violet Beauty, whereas the lowest (1.098 mL) was recorded in Pink Impression. At the end of the vase life period, higher concentrations of total soluble sugars in petals and total soluble proteins in leaves were recorded in La-treated stems, compared to the AsA treatment and the control. Additionally, La(NO3)3 × 6H2O supply increased the fresh weight of stems in vase and prolonged vase life. Moreover, this treatment resulted in the highest foliar concentration of chlorophylls at the end of vase life. Therefore, La increases tulip flower vase life as a consequence of improving the concentrations of some vital biomolecules.

Highlights

Ascorbic acid serves as a co-factor for many enzymes and it contributes to the detoxification of reactive oxygen species (ROS)[3], which renders resistance to oxidative stress and increases longevity in eukaryotic cells
During the evaluation carried out 11 dac, the accumulated water consumption in all varieties treated with LaCl3 was higher by 4.1, 14.1 and 18.8%, as compared to that observed in stems exposed to La(NO3)[3], ascorbic acid and the control, respectively (Fig. 1E)
In previous studies we have reported the effect of a number of La concentrations on growth, development, and nutrient concentration of tulip plants[19,20]

Summary

Introduction

Ascorbic acid serves as a co-factor for many enzymes and it contributes to the detoxification of reactive oxygen species (ROS)[3], which renders resistance to oxidative stress and increases longevity in eukaryotic cells. The application of 150 mg/L AsA significantly increased the vase life, fresh weight and percentage of total carbohydrates of snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) cut flowers[6]. In snow lotus (Saussurea involucrata), the highest rooting efficiency (96%), root number/shoot (8.5), and root length (63 mm) were recorded in shoots cultured on medium containing 2.5 μM IAA combined with 100 μM La(NO3)3 × 6H2O17 In cut flowers such as snapdragon, La (as LaCl3) has been shown to inhibit stem curvature of spikes by preventing several gravity-dependent processes[18]. In rose (Rosa × hybrida), the application of 500 μM/L La improved the water balance of cut flowers, increased fresh weight, reduced respiration rate, and prolonged vase life for 2–3 d more than the control[21]. It was shown that both La(NO3)[3] and LaCl3 activate endocytosis of horseradish leaf cells[25]

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