Elucidation of the decision mechanism of flower opening time by melatonin

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26660021
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Horticultural science
• Research Institution: Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
• Principal Investigator: Yamada Tetsuya 東京農工大学, (連合)農学研究科(研究院), 准教授 (20422511)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: アサガオ / 開花時刻 / メラトニン / 花弁展開 / AANAT / ASMT

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we confirmed that treatment of melatonin to the cut flowers of morning glory shortened the time of petal opening and hastened the clock time of flowering. Meanwhile, treatment of N- acetyl tryptamine, a melatonin synthesis inhibitor, was extend the time of petal opening and delayed the clock time of flowering. We also confirmed that transcript abundance of melatonin biosynthesis enzyme genes (InAANAT, InASMT) and melatonin content were increased in opening petals of morning glory cut flowers treated with the dark period of 12 hours. From these results, it is suggested that melatonin is involved with the dark period induced flower opening of morning glory.

Free Research Field

植物遺伝育種学