Molecular aspects of flower senescence and strategies to improve flower longevity

• Published in: Breeding Science Vol. 68; no. 1; pp. 99 - 108
• Main Author: Shibuya, Kenichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Japanese Society of Breeding 2018; Japan Science and Technology Agency
• Subjects: Age; Biosynthesis; Breeding; Cell death; Ethylene; flower; Flowers; Gene expression; Gene regulation; Genetic modification; Helix-loop-helix proteins (basic); Homeobox; Leucine; Leucine zipper proteins; Longevity; Molecular chains; Ornamental plants; Plants (botany); programmed cell death; Regulatory mechanisms (biology); Review; Senescence; transcription factor; Transcription factors; senescence; transcription factor; programmed cell death; ethylene; flower
• ISSN: 1344-7610; 1347-3735
• DOI: 10.1270/jsbbs.17081

Flower longevity is one of the most important traits for ornamental plants. Ethylene plays a crucial role in flower senescence in some plant species. In several species that show ethylene-dependent flower senescence, genetic modification targeting genes for ethylene biosynthesis or signaling has improved flower longevity. Although little is known about regulatory mechanisms of petal senescence in flowers that show ethylene-independent senescence, a recent study of Japanese morning glory revealed that a NAC transcription factor, EPHEMERAL1 (EPH1), is a key regulator in ethylene-independent petal senescence. EPH1 is induced in an age-dependent manner irrespective of ethylene signal, and suppression of EPH1 expression dramatically delays petal senescence. In ethylene-dependent petal senescence, comprehensive transcriptome analyses revealed the involvement of transcription factors, a basic helix-loop-helix protein and a homeodomain-leucine zipper protein, in the transcriptional regulation of the ethylene biosynthesis enzymes. This review summarizes molecular aspects of flower senescence and discusses strategies to improve flower longevity by molecular breeding.