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Daffodil flowers delay senescence in cut Iris flowers.
Wouter G van Doorn1, Andrea Sinz, Monic M Tomassen
1Wageningen University and Research Centre, PO Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands. wouter.vandoorn@wur.nl
Phytochemistry
|March 9, 2004
Summary
Daffodil stems contain narciclasine, a compound that delays iris flower wilting by inhibiting protein synthesis. This discovery offers insights into extending the vase life of cut flowers.
Area of Science:
- Plant Physiology
- Biochemistry
- Floriculture
Background:
- Cut flowers, such as Iris x hollandica, exhibit senescence, a process leading to wilting.
- Extending the vase life of cut flowers is a significant goal in floriculture.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanism by which daffodil flowers delay iris tepal senescence.
- To identify the active compound responsible for this effect and elucidate its mode of action.
Main Methods:
- Visible senescence symptoms in cut iris flowers were monitored.
- The effect of cut daffodil flowers and daffodil mucilage on iris senescence was assessed.
- The active compound in mucilage was identified using advanced analytical techniques (LC/MS, GC/MS, NMR).
- Protease activity and protein synthesis inhibition were measured in vitro and in vivo.
Main Results:
- Cut daffodil flowers and daffodil mucilage significantly delayed iris tepal senescence.
- The active compound was identified as narciclasine.
- Narciclasine delayed the increase in protease activity and reduced its maximum level.
- Narciclasine inhibited protein synthesis at the ribosomal level, similar to cycloheximide (CHX), but at much lower concentrations.
Conclusions:
- The delay in iris senescence is attributed to narciclasine present in daffodil mucilage.
- Narciclasine likely inhibits the synthesis of proteins crucial for the senescence process in iris flowers.
- This finding has potential applications in extending the postharvest life of cut iris flowers.