Hydrogen sulfide alleviates postharvest senescence of broccoli by modulating antioxidant defense and senescence-related gene expression

J Agric Food Chem. 2014 Feb 5;62(5):1119-29. doi: 10.1021/jf4047122. Epub 2014 Jan 24.

Abstract

Accumulating evidence has shown that hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) acts as a signaling regulator in plants. Here we show that H₂S delays the postharvest senescence of broccoli in a dose-dependent manner. H₂S maintains higher levels of metabolites, such as carotenoids, anthocyanin, and ascorbate, and reduces the accumulation of malondialdehyde, H₂O₂, and the superoxide anion. Further investigations showed that H₂S sustained higher activities of guaiacol peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, and glutathione reductase and lower activities of lipoxygenase, polyphenol oxidase, phenylalanine ammonia lyase, and protease than those of water control. Moreover, the expression of the chlorophyll degradation related genes BoSGR, BoCLH2, BoPaO, BoRCCR, as well as cysteine protease BoCP1 and lipoxygenase gene BoLOX1, was down-regulated in postharvest broccoli treated with H₂S. The functions of H₂S on the senescence of other vegetables and fruits suggest its universal role acting as a senescence regulator.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / metabolism*
  • Ascorbate Peroxidases / genetics
  • Ascorbate Peroxidases / metabolism
  • Brassica / drug effects*
  • Brassica / enzymology
  • Brassica / genetics
  • Catalase / genetics
  • Catalase / metabolism
  • Cellular Senescence / drug effects
  • Chlorophyll / genetics
  • Chlorophyll / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / drug effects*
  • Hydrogen Sulfide / pharmacology*
  • Malondialdehyde / metabolism
  • Peroxidase
  • Plant Proteins / genetics*
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Plant Proteins
  • Chlorophyll
  • Malondialdehyde
  • guaiacol peroxidase
  • Ascorbate Peroxidases
  • Catalase
  • Peroxidase
  • Hydrogen Sulfide