Abstract
Phalaenopsis flowers are some of the most popular ornamental flowers in the world. For most ornamental plants, petal longevity determines postharvest quality and garden performance. Therefore, it is important to have insight into the senescence mechanism of Phalaenopsis. In the present study, a proteomic approach combined with ultrastructural observation and activity analysis of antioxidant enzymes was used to profile the molecular and biochemical changes during pollination-induced petal senescence in Phalaenopsis “Red Dragon”. Petals appeared to be visibly wilting at 24 h after pollination, accompanied by the mass degradation of macromolecules and organelles during senescence. In addition, 48 protein spots with significant differences in abundance were found by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and subjected to matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS). There were 42 protein spots successfully identified and homologous to known functional protein species involved in key biological processes, including antioxidant pathways, stress response, protein metabolism, cell wall component metabolism, energy metabolism, cell structure, and signal transduction. The activity of all reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging enzymes was increased, keeping the content of ROS at a low level at the early stage of senescence. These results suggest that two processes, a counteraction against increased levels of ROS and the degradation of cellular constituents for maintaining nutrient recycling, are activated during pollination-induced petal senescence in Phalaenopsis. The information provides a basis for understanding the mechanism regulating petal senescence and prolonging the florescence of Phalaenopsis.
Highlights
Phalaenopsis, named for its butterfly-like flowers, is known as the “queen of the orchids” for its graceful shape and colorful flowers
The longevity of Phalaenopsis petals is under tight developmental control for up to 3 months [3], so it is difficult to understand the mechanism of regulating petal senescence, which can be affected by many environmental factors
Pollination dramatically accelerated the senescence of petals, and flowers visibly wilted at 24 h after pollination (Figure 1A)
Summary
Phalaenopsis, named for its butterfly-like flowers, is known as the “queen of the orchids” for its graceful shape and colorful flowers. Phalaenopsis flowers are among the most popular ornamental flowers in the world and have high economic value [1]. Petal longevity determines postharvest quality and garden performance [2], so it is essential to have insight into the mechanism regulating petal senescence. The longevity of Phalaenopsis petals is under tight developmental control for up to 3 months [3], so it is difficult to understand the mechanism of regulating petal senescence, which can be affected by many environmental factors. Petal senescence and shedding are the earliest and most obvious changes induced by pollination [5]. Pollination treatment provides a quick and efficient approach for the study of Phalaenopsis petal senescence
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