A specific group of genes respond to cold dehydration stress in cut Alstroemeria flowers whereas ambient dehydration stress accelerates developmental senescence expression patterns

Petal development and senescence entails a normally irreversible process. It starts with petal expansion and pigment production, and ends with nutrient remobilization and ultimately cell death. In many species this is accompanied by petal abscission. Post-harvest stress is an important factor in limiting petal longevity in cut flowers and accelerates some of the processes of senescence such as petal wilting and abscission. However, some of the effects of moderate stress in young flowers are reversible with appropriate treatments. Transcriptomic studies have shown that distinct gene sets are expressed during petal development and senescence. Despite this, the overlap in gene expression between developmental and stress-induced senescence in petals has not been fully investigated in any species. Here a custom-made cDNA microarray from Alstroemeria petals was used to investigate the overlap in gene expression between developmental changes (bud to first sign of senescence) and typical post-harvest stress treatments. Young flowers were stressed by cold or ambient temperatures without water followed by a recovery and rehydration period. Stressed flowers were still at the bud stage after stress treatments. Microarray analysis showed that ambient dehydration stress accelerates many of the changes in gene expression patterns that would normally occur during developmental senescence. However, a higher proportion of gene expression changes in response to cold stress were specific to this stimulus and not senescence related. The expression of 21 transcription factors was characterized, showing that overlapping sets of regulatory genes are activated during developmental senescence and by different stresses.

Pontederia cordata - Alstroemeria

AR

Gamma irradiation on Alstroemeria aurea G. in vitro rhizomes: : an approach to the appropriate dosage for breeding purposes

Gamma irradiation has been widely used as a breeding technique to obtain new cultivars in ornamental species such as Alstroemeria, where several cultivars have been obtained through rhizome radiation. The optimum dosage for an appropriate induction of mutation must be considered for breeding purposes and it depends mainly on plant susceptibility. Thus in this study in vitro cultured rhizomes of Alstroemeria aurea were irradiated with a gamma source using different dosages to evaluate the direct effect produced. Damage and number of rhizome sprouting were observed and recorded during 61 days after irradiation. At the end of this period, rhizomes were weighted and mortality was evaluated. Both mortality and weight increased depending on dosage. All irradiated rhizomes showed early sprouting in comparison with control (0 Gy) and no significant difference in final number of shoots after 61 days among irradiated treatments was observed. Bleaching and necrosis was observed in all irradiated rhizomes and was more evident at higher doses. LD50 was established at about 40 Gy and the optimum dosage to induce mutation was suggested between 2.5 and 5 Gy, when the growth was reduced in 50%, and probably this dosage could be used for breeding purposes.

Programmed cell death (PCD) processes begin extremely early in Alstroemeria petal senescence

-In the Liliaceous species Alstroemeria, petal senescence is characterized by wilting and inrolling, terminating in abscission 8-10 d after flower opening. -In many species, flower development and senescence involves programmed cell death (PCD). PCD in Alstroemeria petals was investigated by light (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) (to study nuclear degradation and cellular integrity), DNA laddering and the expression programme of the DAD-1 gene. -TEM showed nuclear and cellular degradation commenced before the flowers were fully open and that epidermal cells remained intact whilst the mesophyll cells degenerated completely. DNA laddering increased throughout petal development. Expression of the ALSDAD-1 partial cDNA was shown to be downregulated after flower opening. -We conclude that some PCD processes are started extremely early and proceed throughout flower opening and senescence, whereas others occur more rapidly between stages 4-6 (i.e. postanthesis). The spatial distribution of PCD across the petals is discussed. Several molecular and physiological markers of PCD are present during Alstroemeria petal senescence. © New Phytologist (2003).

Characterization of a novel lipoxygenase-independent senescence mechanism in Alstroemeria peruviana floral tissue

The role of lipoxygenase (lox) in senescence ofAlstroemeria peruviana flowers was investigated using a combination of in vitro assays and chemical profiling of the lipid oxidation products generated. Phospholipids and galactolipids were extensively degraded during senescence in both sepals and petals and the ratio of saturated/unsaturated fatty acids increased. Lox protein levels and enzymatic activity declined markedly after flower opening. Stereochemical analysis of lox products showed that 13-lox was the major activity present in both floral tissues and high levels of 13-keto fatty acids were also synthesized. Lipid hydroperoxides accumulated in sepals, but not in petals, and sepals also had a higher chlorophyll to carotenoid ratio that favors photooxidation of lipids. Loss of membrane semipermeability was coincident for both tissue types and was chronologically separated from lox activity that had declined by over 80% at the onset of electrolyte leakage. Thus, loss of membrane function was not related to lox activity or accumulation of lipid hydroperoxides per se and differs in these respects from other ethylene-insensitive floral tissues representing a novel pattern of flower senescence.

Cysteine protease gene expression and proteolytic activity during senescence of Alstroemeria petals

The functional life of the flower is terminated by senescence and/or abscission. Multiple processes contribute to produce the visible signs of petal wilting and inrolling that typify senescence, but one of the most important is that of protein degradation and remobilization. This is mediated in many species through protein ubiquitination and the action of specific protease enzymes. This paper reports the changes in protein and protease activity during development and senescence of Alstroemeria flowers, a Liliaceous species that shows very little sensitivity to ethylene during senescence and which shows perianth abscission 8-10 d after flower opening. Partial cDNAs of ubiquitin (ALSUQ1) and a putative cysteine protease (ALSCYP1) were cloned from Alstroemeria using degenerate PCR primers and the expression pattern of these genes was determined semi-quantitatively by RT-PCR. While the levels of ALSUQ1 only fluctuated slightly during floral development and senescence, there was a dramatic increase in the expression of ALSCYP1 indicating that this gene may encode an important enzyme for the proteolytic process in this species. Three papain class cysteine protease enzymes showing different patterns of activity during flower development were identified on zymograms, one of which showed a similar expression pattern to the cysteine protease cDNA.

Increasing flower longevity in Alstroemeria

The vase-life of Alstroemeria (cv. Rebecca) flowers is terminated when the tepals abscise. Abscission was accelerated by both chloroethylphosphonic acid (CEPA) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC). Petals abscised 24 h earlier compared with controls, when isolated cymes were placed in 340 nM CEPA, and earlier still when higher concentrations were used. This suggests that flowers of this Alstroemeria cultivar are very ethylene sensitive. Treatment with silver thiosulphate (STS) overcame the effects of exposure to CEPA and delayed perianth abscission of untreated isolated flowers by 3-4 days. The inclusion of 1% sucrose in the vase solution also extended longevity but not by as much as STS treatment; combined STS and sucrose treatments did not increase longevity beyond that of either treatment alone. However, removal of the young buds from the axil of the first flower was the most effective treatment to extend vase-life and encouraged the growth and development of the remaining flower. Flowers on cut inflorescences from which young axillary buds were trimmed more than doubled in fresh weight 6 days after flower opening compared with an increase of only 70-80% in those untreated or treated with STS and/or sucrose. Growth was less in isolated cymes but followed a similar pattern. The effect of STS and/or sucrose treatment was synergistic with the trimming treatment and thus the vase-life of trimmed, STS and sucrose-treated flowers was over 7 days longer than that for untreated controls. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Factores que limitan la inserción de las flores peruanas en los mercados de exportación

El valor de las exportaciones peruanas de flores-entre 2004 y 2013-crecieron un 61 por ciento, alcanzando los 9.798.552 millones de dólares. Sin embargo, Perú escasamente participa con el 0,12 por ciento del total de las exportaciones mundiales de flores, ubicándose en la posición 35 dentro del ranking de países exportadores. Y la la tasa acumulada de participación en el mercado fue de tan sólo 0,241 por ciento. Por ende, el objetivo general de esta investigación fue identificar y describir los factores que limitan la inserción de las flores peruanas en los mercados de exportación para poder aprovechar las oportunidades que brindan los mercados internacionales. La metodología empleada para este estudio fue descriptiva, cuantitativa y cualitativa, apoyada en información secundaria y analizada a través del Índice de Ventajas Comparativas Reveladas, Diamante de Porter y la matriz FODA. En la descripción del ambiente competitivo se determinó que Perú concentra el 99,18 por ciento de sus exportaciones en el grupo de las Hydrangeas, Gypsophila, Alstroemeria, etc., al tener un mayor precio que el resto de variedades. El análisis de la posición competitiva del sector florícola nacional señaló que el Índice de Ventajas Comparativas promedio de Perú es 0,53, no revelándose ventajas comparativas. Además, el sector sostiene su ventaja competitiva basada principalmente en factores básicos (excelentes condiciones agroclimáticas, disponibilidad de superficie agrícola y abundante mano de obra), pero no ha desarrollado los avanzados y especializados (poca inversión en I+D, reducida producción científica, productores agrícolas sin capacitación y asistencia técnica), lo cual no asegura su sustentabilidad a largo plazo. Asimismo, la rivalidad interna de las empresas exportadoras peruanos no viene aportando ventajas al sector ante la ausencia de presión interna para la innovación. El sector florícola peruano cuenta con oportunidades para apalancar su crecimiento, tales como los acuerdos comerciales y excelentes condiciones agroclimáticas. Sus fortalezas son mínimas, destacándose la disponibilidad de mano de obra semicalificada. Además, no es lo suficientemente fuerte para escapar de las amenazas, como la aparición de nuevos competidores. Y sus principales debilidades son la falta de innovación y adaptación a las perturbaciones.

Planta Alströmeria ... /

Also published in Linné's Amoenitates academicae, v. 6, ed. 1, 1763; ed. 2, 1789, p. 247-262. cf. Hulth, Bibl. Linn. (1907) p. 125.