ESTIMATION OF PROTEIN METABOLITES DURING POSTHARVEST SHELF LIFE OF TITHONIA ROTUNDIFOLIA BLAKE

Abstract

Senescence has a specialized meaning in plant biology, which is part of a cloud of terms mentioning generally to the process or condition of growing old. Many physiological changes takes place during senescence like Chlorophyll degradation; change in pigmentation; decrease the starch content, RNA and protein; DNA molecules are degraded by the enzyme DNase; growth promoting hormones such as cytokinin decrease; the deteriorative hormones such as ethylene and abscisic acid (ABA) content are increases. Post harvest shelf life of cut flower is dependent on the water balance, level and supply of carbohydrates and susceptibility towards growth retarding hormone like ethylene   which leads to senescence. Beside carbohydrate metabolism, protein metabolism is also known to be associated with the senescence process and programmed cell death (PCD). During senescence degradation of protein may occur and make free amino acids. Proteins play important role during senescence. During present study it was observed that the total protein content decreased during course of time under cut conditions of flower. This may be due to less reserve in cut condition.