A petunia transcription factor, PhOBF1, regulates flower senescence by modulating gibberellin biosynthesis

Flower senescence is commonly enhanced by the endogenous hormone ethylene and suppressed by the gibberellins (GAs) in plants. However, the detailed mechanisms for the antagonism of these hormones during flower senescence remain elusive. In this study, we characterized one up-regulated gene PhOBF1, belonging to the basic leucine zipper transcription factor family, in senescing petals of petunia (Petunia hybrida). Exogenous treatments with ethylene and GA₃ provoked a dramatic increase in PhOBF1 transcripts. Compared with wild-type plants, PhOBF1-RNAi transgenic petunia plants exhibited shortened flower longevity, while overexpression of PhOBF1 resulted in delayed flower senescence. Transcript abundances of two senescence-related genes PhSAG12 and PhSAG29 were higher in PhOBF1-silenced plants but lower in PhOBF1-overexpressing plants. Silencing and overexpression of PhOBF1 affected expression levels of a few genes involved in the GA biosynthesis and signaling pathways, as well as accumulation levels of bioactive GAs GA₁ and GA₃. Application of GA₃ restored the accelerated petal senescence to normal levels in PhOBF1-RNAi transgenic petunia lines, and reduced ethylene release and transcription of three ethylene biosynthetic genes PhACO1, PhACS1, and PhACS2. Moreover, PhOBF1 was observed to specifically bind to the PhGA20ox3 promoter containing a G-box motif. Transient silencing of PhGA20ox3 in petunia plants through tobacco rattle virus-based virus-induced gene silencing method led to accelerated corolla senescence. Our results suggest that PhOBF1 functions as a negative regulator of ethylene-mediated flower senescence by modulating the GA production.