The possible involvement of Ca2+ as a second messenger in snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus L.) shoot gravitropism, as well as the role of ethylene in this bending response, were analyzed in terms of stem curvature and gravity-induced asymmetric ethylene production rates, ethylene-related metabolites, and invertase activity across the stem. Application of Ca2+ chelators (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, trans-1,2-cyclohexane dinitor-N,N,N[prime],N[prime]-tetraacetic acid, 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N[prime],N[prime],-tetraacetic acid) or a Ca2+ antagonist (LaCl3) to the spikes caused a significant loss of their gravitorpic response following horizontal placement. Conversely, the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 or the agonist Bay K-8644 increased gravibending. Longitudinally halved stem sections had significantly higher amounts of ethylene, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid, and 1-(malonylamino) cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid compared with vertical controls, with the extra production arising exclusively from the lower half of the stem. trans-1,2-cyclohexane dinitro-N,N,N[prime],N[prime]-tetraacetic acid pretreatment completely abolished the gravity-induced ethylene gradient across the stem, thereby leading to a significant reduction of the curvature. Similarly, reduction of the ethylene produced in the gravistimulated stems with CoCl2 or inhibition of its action by silver thiosulfate or 2,5-norbornadiene significantly inhibited the subsequent gravibending. Silver thiosulfate and CoCl2 also abolished the gravity-induced gradient of invertase activity across the stem, which is associated with the asymmetric stem elongation. These results suggest that cytosolic Ca2+ may regulate auxin action in snapdragon spikes, manifested as increased ethylene production, which is, in turn, intimately correlated with stem bending. Therefore, both hormones seem to play significant roles in induction and progress of the gravibending of snapdragon spikes.

Ethylene plays a major role in the regulation of flower senescence, including in the ethylene-sensitive Vanda ‘Sansai Blue’ orchid flowers. This cut flower is popular in Thailand due to its light blue big size florets possessing a beautiful shape pattern. In the present study, we further examined the rapid ethylene-induced process of active anthocyanin degradation in cut Vanda ‘Sansai Blue’ flowers, which occurred much before detection of other typical senescence-related symptoms. For this purpose, the cut inflorescences were exposed to air (control), 1 or 10 μl L⁻¹ ethylene for 24 h, or to 0.2 μl L⁻¹ 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) for 6 h followed by 10 μl L⁻¹ ethylene for 24 h at 21°C, and the effects of these treatments on various parameters were assayed. While the fading-induced effect of ethylene was not concentration-dependent in this range, the ethylene treatment significantly reduced the flower vase life in a concentration-dependent manner, further confirming the separation of the bleaching process from senescence. Exposure of the inflorescences to 1-MCP pre-treatment followed by 10 μl L⁻¹ ethylene, recovered both inflorescence color and anthocyanin content to control levels. Quantification of total anthocyanin content, performed by HPLC analysis on the basis of cyanidin-3-glocuside equivalents, showed that ethylene reduced and 1-MCP recovered the anthocyanins profile in non-hydrolyzed anthocyanin samples of Vanda ‘Sansai Blue’ florets, assayed at half bloom and bloom developmental stages. The results showed that the ethylene-induced color fading, observed immediately after treatment, resulted from a significant reduction in the levels of the two main anthocyanidins, cyanidin and delphinidin, as well as of other anthocyanidins present in low abundance, but not from changes in the levels of flavonols, such as kaempferol. This anthocyanin degradation process seems to operate via ethylene-increased peroxidase activity, detected at the bud stage. Taken together, our results suggest that the ethylene-induced rapid color bleaching in petals of cut Vanda ‘Sansai Blue’ flowers is an outcome of in-planta anthocyanin degradation, partially mediated by increased peroxidase activity, and proceeds independently of the flower senescence process.

In mango (Mangifera indica L.), fruitlet abscission limits productivity. The INFLORESCENCE DEFICIENT IN ABSCISSION (IDA) peptide acts as a key component controlling abscission events in Arabidopsis. IDA-like peptides may assume similar roles in fruit trees. In this study, we isolated two mango IDA-like encoding-genes, MiIDA1 and MiIDA2. We used mango fruitlet-bearing explants and fruitlet-bearing trees, in which fruitlets abscission was induced using ethephon. We monitored the expression profiles of the two MiIDA-like genes in control and treated fruitlet abscission zones (AZs). In both systems, qRT-PCR showed that, within 24 h, both MiIDA-like genes were induced by ethephon, and that changes in their expression profiles were associated with upregulation of different ethylene signaling-related and cell-wall modifying genes. Furthermore, ectopic expression of both genes in Arabidopsis promoted floral-organ abscission, and was accompanied by an early increase in the cytosolic pH of floral AZ cells—a phenomenon known to be linked with abscission, and by activation of cell separation in vestigial AZs. Finally, overexpression of both genes in an Atida mutant restored its abscission ability. Our results suggest roles for MiIDA1 and MiIDA2 in affecting mango fruitlet abscission. Based on our results, we propose new possible modes of action for IDA-like proteins in regulating organ abscission.

There is limited information about the postharvest performance and physiology of Mokara orchid cut flowers, which are a special group of artificially created trigenetic hybrids of Vanda × Arachnis × Ascocentrum. Therefore, we first characterized the patterns of various physiological parameters during vase life of five Mokara hybrids, which differ in their longevity. Then, we examined the effects of ethephon and ethylene inhibitors on these physiological parameters, and on parameters of the ethylene biosynthesis pathway, during vase life of two selected Mokara hybrids, “Moo-deang” and “Dao-lai”, which showed significant differences in their vase life duration and senescence symptoms. The results demonstrate that the differences in vase life longevity among the five Mokara hybrids are due to differences in their ethylene production rates, which regulate flower development processes expressed in bud opening and floret senescence. The results clearly show that ethylene is involved in the regulation of the Mokara flower senescence, and pretreatment with ethylene inhibitors significantly improved their vase life longevity. Thus, ethylene seems to be the main factor that determines the longevity differences of the Mokara hybrids, rather than their water relations parameters. This study can serve as a research tool for developing effective postharvest treatments for Mokara hybrids.

The abscission process occurs in a specific abscission zone (AZ) as a consequence of the middle lamella dissolution, cell wall degradation, and formation of a defense layer. The proteins and metabolites related to these processes are secreted by vesicle trafficking through the plasma membrane to the cell wall and middle lamella of the separating cells in the AZ. We investigated this process, since the regulation of vesicle trafficking in abscission systems is poorly understood. The data obtained describe, for the first time, the kinetics of the upregulated expression of genes encoding the components involved in vesicle trafficking, occurring specifically in the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) flower AZ (FAZ) during pedicel abscission induced by flower removal. The genes encoding vesicle trafficking components included soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs), SNARE regulators, and small GTPases. Our results clearly show how the processes of protein secretion by vesicle trafficking are regulated, programmed, and orchestrated at the level of gene expression in the FAZ. The data provide evidence for target proteins, which can be further used for affinity purification of plant vesicles in their natural state. Such analyses and dissection of the complex vesicle trafficking networks are essential for further elucidating the mechanism of organ abscission.