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Calcium regulates Gladiolus flower senescence by influencing antioxidative enzymes activity

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Abstract

The objective of the present investigation was to study the role of calcium on antioxidative enzymes activity during the post-harvest life of Gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus). Among the various calcium (Ca) treatments, 50 mmol l−1 Ca treatments caused the highest increase in the vase life of the spike, from 5.5 days in control to about 9 days. Relative water content and membrane stability index (MSI) decreased from I to V stage. However, significant increase in relative water content and MSI were observed by 50 mmol l−1 Ca as compared to control. Indices of oxidative stress such as lipid peroxidation and lipoxygenase activity increased from I to V stage, but decreased significantly in 50 mmol l−1 Ca treatment. The activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) decreased initially from stage I to II, followed by an increase in stage III and thereafter started to decline at stages IV and V. Ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity increased initially from stage I to III and thereafter declined in stage IV and V in both control and treatment. However, Ca with concentration of 50 mmol l−1 increased the activities of SOD, CAT and APX at all the stages. The results revealed that spikes treated with Ca (50 mmol l−1) solution maintained higher level of antioxidant enzymes activity and also showed delayed senescence in comparison to control.

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Acknowledgments

Vasanthan gratefully acknowledge the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India for the award of senior research fellowship during the course of the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Plant Physiology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110 012, India

    Raj K. Sairam, B. Vasanthan & Ajay Arora

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  1. Raj K. Sairam
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  2. B. Vasanthan
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  3. Ajay Arora
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Correspondence to Raj K. Sairam.

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Communicated by P. K. Nagar.

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Sairam, R.K., Vasanthan, B. & Arora, A. Calcium regulates Gladiolus flower senescence by influencing antioxidative enzymes activity. Acta Physiol Plant 33, 1897–1904 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-011-0734-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-011-0734-8

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