The effect of spermidine and methionine application thorough two biosynthetic paths on flowering of early and late flowering genotypes of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)

• Published in: Scientia horticulturae 2022-12, Vol.306, p.111459, Article 111459
• Main Authors: Rezaeian, Zahra, Haghighi, Maryam, Kappel, Noémi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Eggplant; Methionine; Methylglyoxal-bis-guanilhydrazone; Polyamines; Spermidine; Synthesis inhibitors
• ISSN: 0304-4238; 1879-1018
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2022.111459

•The concentration of 0.5 mM spermidine had more effect on morphological traits, and the concentration of 1 mM had more effect on flowering and fruit traits in two eggplant genotypes.•. External application of amino acid especially methionine, improved reproduction and yield in the late flowering genotype compared to the early flowering genotype.•Application of inhibitors of spermidine synthesis pathways showed stronger inhibitory effects in early flowering genotype than late-flowering genotype.•Blocking the synthetic pathway of methionine precursor in two late and early genotypes showed more inhibition than the putrescine precursor pathway.•Methionine precursor path's blocking had more inhibitory effects on reproductive and fruiting characteristics in the late flowering genotype. This research was carried out to investigate the effect of Spermidine (SPD) and its synthesis routes on flowering and fruit formation in two early and late flowering genotypes of eggplant in a completely randomized design. For this reason, the spermidine route was blocked with Cyclohexylamine (CHA) and Methylglyoxal-bis-guanilhydrazone (MGBG) separately to investigate each route effect. On the other hand, the route synthesis promotes with the precursor methionine (200 mg/L) and spermidine (0.5 and 1 mM), and distilled water was used as a control treatment. These treatments were applied in vegetative growth and ten days after flowering. Results showed that SPD increased the traits such as length of style, long-styled flowers, fruit number, and yield. The lowest amount of day to flowering was observed in SPD, 0.5 mM at early flowering genotypes. The highest fruit weight and yield were in SPD, 1 mM at late flowering genotype. SPD improved flowering and fruit characteristics in both genotypes. Conclusively, methionine precursor path's blocking had more inhibitory effects on reproductive and fruiting characteristics in the late flowering genotype, i.e., methionine was a more critical precursor in spermidine production induced flowering than spermidine application. The activity of synthetic pathways and their effects on different processes depends on the different cultivars and stages of the developmental stage of the eggplant. [Display omitted]