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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Sugarbeet and Potato Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #377362
Research Project: Increasing Sugar Beet Productivity and Sustainability through Genetic and Physiological Approaches

Location: Sugarbeet and Potato Research

Title: Selenium-ethylene interplay in postharvest life of cut flowers

Author
item DA COSTA, LUCAS - Universidade Federal De Vicosa
item LUZ, LUANA - Instituto Nacional De Pesquisas Da Amazonia (INPA)
item NASCIMENTO, VITOR - Federal University Of Tocantins (UFT)
item DE ARAUJO, FERNANDA - Universidade Federal De Vicosa
item SANTOS, MIRELLE - Universidade Federal De Vicosa
item FRANCA, CHRISTIANE - Universidade Federal De Sao Carlos
item DA SILVA, TANIA - Universidade Federal Dos Vales Do Jequitinhonha E Mucuri
item Fugate, Karen
item FINGER, FERNANDO - Universidade Federal De Vicosa

Submitted to: Frontiers in Plant Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/26/2020
Publication Date: 12/17/2020
Citation: Da Costa, L.C., Luz, L.M., Nascimento, V.L., De Araujo, F.F., Santos, M.N., Franca, C.D., Da Silva, T.P., Fugate, K.K., Finger, F.L. 2020. Selenium-ethylene interplay in postharvest life of cut flowers. Frontiers in Plant Science. 11. Article e584698. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.584698.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.584698

Interpretive Summary: Selenium (Se) is a beneficial nutrient for plants when provided at low levels. Recently Se has been demonstrated to interact with the plant hormone ethylene during plant growth and development and has been found to increase vase life in flowers that deteriorate when exposed to ethylene. How Se affects ethylene production and ethylene responses in plants are poorly understood and have yet to be examined in cut flowers. In the present article, the likely action of Se on ethylene synthesis in plants and its effects on the biology of cut flowers is discussed. By analyzing Se’s chemical properties and potential interactions with ethylene synthesis and plant responses to ethylene, new insight is generated with regards to using Se solutions to reduce the detrimental effects of ethylene on flower quality and improve cut flower vase life due to Se’s ability to reduce ethylene synthesis. This article additionally strengthens the supposition that Se has a key role in the longevity of ethylene-sensitive cut flowers and provides information that is useful for developing new technologies utilizing Se to increase cut flower shelf life.

Technical Abstract: Selenium (Se) is considered a beneficial element in higher plants when provided at low concentrations. Recently, studies have unveiled the interactions between Se and ethylene metabolism throughout plant growth and development. However, despite the evidence that Se may provide longer shelf life in ethylene-sensitive flowers, its primary action on ethylene biosynthesis and cause-effect responses are still understated. In the present review, we discuss the likely action of Se on ethylene biosynthesis and its consequence on postharvest physiology of cut flowers. By combining Se chemical properties with a dissection of ethylene metabolism, we further highlighted both the potential use of Se solutions and their downstream responses on ethylene biosynthesis downregulation. We believe that this report will provide the foundation for the hypothesis that Se plays a key role in the postharvest longevity of ethylene-sensitive flowers. Moreover, it paves the way for further development of applied technologies based on Se for longer cut flower shelf life.