Search Results (2)

Foxtail lily (Eremurus), as a medicinal-ornamental geophyte, has recently emerged in the cut flower market as a novel, commercially significant specialty cut flower (SCF). However, there is limited information about the sensitivity to ethylene of foxtail lily species for managing the ethylene-mediated senescence to prolong the vase life and maintain the ornamental quality of this flower. The purpose of the current study was to compare the ethylene production rates and patterns, as well as the responses to exogenous ethylene and ethylene inhibitors, between two species, E. spectabilis and E. persicus, to better understand the role of ethylene in Eremurus inflorescence senescence. The results revealed that exogenous ethylene (10 μL L⁻¹), as a pulsing or continuous method, dramatically accelerated petal wilting in E. spectabilis and petal abscission in E. persicus. Furthermore, the rate and patterns of endogenous ethylene production varied significantly among the two investigated species. Interestingly, E. persicus exhibited a higher rate of ethylene production than E. spectabilis on the first day after harvesting, but the reverse was true at the end of the vase life (Day 4 of the vase period). The results revealed that the treatments with ethylene inhibitors considerably improved the water relations and vase longevity of both foxtail lily species. The vase life of E. spectabilis was dramatically enhanced by silver thiosulfate complex (STS) treatment (0.2 mM pulse for 24 h) from 5 d (control) to 7 d. Furthermore, 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) at 0.5 and 1.0 μL L⁻¹ markedly improved water uptake, relative fresh weight, and water balance and extended the vase life of cut inflorescences by ~2 d in E. spectabilis and E. persicus, compared with those of control cut inflorescences, respectively. This research revealed that ethylene is involved in controlling the senescence of foxtail lily flowers, and two tested species exhibited distinct forms of ethylene sensitivity, including abscission type in E. persicus and wilting-type in E. spectabilis. Collectively, these findings suggest that ethylene is involved in the senescence of cut foxtail lily inflorescence and that ethylene inhibitors can prolong vase life. Full article

Eremurus spectabilis M. Bieb, a perennial herbaceous wild species, is commonly used in the horticultural, ornamental, and pharmaceutical markets. Studies on the tissue culture systems for this species would be beneficial for mass multiplication as well as for future breeding programs. An in vitro propagation technique was established here using tuberous root explants as unique and responsive starting materials for culture initiation. The proliferated calli were sub-cultured on shoot proliferation media and regenerated microshoots were assessed. The shoot proliferation rate, leaf number, leaf length, and chlorophyll and carotenoid contents were recorded. The highest callus induction per explant (76.67%), callus dry weight (10.25 mg), callus firmness ratio (3.97), and callus color intensity ratio (2.83) were observed in explants inoculated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 10.0 mgL⁻¹ 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). The highest shoot proliferation rates were obtained when calli were sub-cultured on MS or Schenk and Hildebrandt (SH) basal media supplemented with 2.0 mgL⁻¹ BAP. The half-strength MS medium fortified with 4.0% sucrose + 2.0 mgL⁻¹ indole butyric acid (IBA) + 200 mgL⁻¹ activated charcoal was a superior combination for root emergence and rooting parameters. Regenerated plantlets were then successfully adapted to ex vitro conditions. The reported protocol can be exploited at a commercial scale following minor modification, or could be beneficial in the production of secondary metabolites in bioreactors where callus is required as fresh plant material. Full article