Involvement of ethylene and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase gene in regulation of programmed cell death during rose (Rosa x hybrida) flower development.

Programmed cell death (PCD) is an integral part of plant development. Flower petal usually has the shortest lifetime among all plant organs. There must be a sensitive, tightly controlled PCD in the life cycle of the flower. To understand its mechanism, the ethylene production rate of petals and its correlation with degree of senescence, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) synthase gene expression, ACC synthase activity and ACC content were determined through the whole flower development period which was arbitrarily divided into five stages depending on appearance of the flower. The results showed that ethylene was not detectable at stages 1 and 2, appeared at stage 3 and increased at stage 5. Transcript of ACC synthase gene did not accumulate at stages 1 and 2, but did so at stages 3-5, and increased gradually at stage 5. ACC synthase activity and ACC content changed in similar way to ethylene production. Ethylene plays a critical role in initiation of rose flower senescence through regulating petal PCD.