Hormonal regulation of gummosis and composition of gums from bulbs of hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis)

• Published in: Journal of plant physiology 2015-02, Vol.174, p.1-4
• Main Authors: Miyamoto, Kensuke, Kotake, Toshihisa, Boncela, Anna Jarecka, Saniewski, Marian, Ueda, Junichi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetates - pharmacology; Bulbs; Carbohydrates - analysis; Chromatography, Ion Exchange; Control; Cyclopentanes - pharmacology; Ethylene; Gummosis; Gums; Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis); Hyacinthus - drug effects; Hyacinthus - microbiology; Lanolin; Metabolism; Methyl jasmonate; Molecular Weight; Organophosphorus Compounds - pharmacology; Oxylipins - pharmacology; Physiology; Plant Diseases - microbiology; Plant Growth Regulators - pharmacology; Plant Gums - chemistry; Plant Roots - chemistry; Plant Roots - microbiology; Reference Standards; Sugar composition; Sugars
• ISSN: 0176-1617; 1618-1328
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2014.10.007

Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis) bulbs infected by Fusarium oxysporum showed the symptoms of gummosis. The purpose of this study was to clarify the hormonal regulation of gummosis and composition of gums from hyacinth bulbs. The application of ethephon (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid), an ethylene-releasing compound, at 2% (w/w, in lanolin) induced gummosis in hyacinth bulbs. Methyl jasmonate (JA-Me) at 1.5% (w/w, in lanolin) induced gummosis as well. Simultaneous application of JA-Me and ethephon further enhanced gummosis. Molecular mass distribution of hyacinth gums analyzed by gel permeation chromatography indicated that the gums were mainly homogenous polysaccharides with an average molecular weight of ca. 30kDa. Analysis of the sugar composition of the gums after hydrolysis revealed that the majority were arabinose (ca. 35%) and galactose (ca. 40%) together with small amounts of fucose, rhamnose and uronic acids (ca. 5%, respectively), suggesting that the gums are pectic arabinogalactans. These results indicate that jasmonates (JAs) interact with ethylene to stimulate sugar metabolism, producing pectic arabinogalactans, and vice versa, leading to gummosis. These findings, together with those from our previous studies in tulips (Tulipa gesneriana) and grape hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum), revealed that sugar metabolism and hormonal regulation relating to gummosis are different among species of bulbous plants.