Pre-harvest ethylene control affects vase life of cut rose ‘Carola’ by regulating energy metabolism and antioxidant enzyme activity

Abstract

We studied the role of ethylene control in regulating energy metabolism, antioxidant enzyme activity, and vase life of cut rose Rosa hybrida ‘Carola’. Rose flowers at stage II were sprayed with one of the following solutions: water (control), 10 μL L−1 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), or 0.5 g L−1 2-chloroethanephosphonic acid (ethephon). After harvest, ethylene production rate, respiration intensity, energy charge (EC), activities of energy metabolism-related and antioxidant enzymes, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were measured. Results showed that 1-MCP enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase, H+-adenosine triphosphatase, Ca2+-adenosine triphosphatase, succinic dehydrogenase, and cytochrome c oxidase, increased adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content, maintained high EC levels, inhibited respiration intensity, reduced peroxidase (POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity and MDA accumulation, and prolonged vase life. Ethephon promoted ethylene production and respiration intensity, increased POD and PPO activity, reduced ATP content and EC levels, and accelerated senescence. Our results support a novel role for ethylene control in regulating senescence of ‘Carola’.