Short communicationLanthanum delays the senescence of Lilium longiflorum cut flowers by improving antioxidant defense system and water retaining capacity

•LaCl3 delayed the senescence of Lilium longiflorum cut flowers.•LaCl3 improved antioxidant defense system through antioxidant enzymes and non-enzymatic substances.•LaCl3 improved water retaining capacity by increasing osmoregulation substances and maintaining membrane integrity.

This study investigated the effects of lanthanum supplied as lanthanum (III) chloride (LaCl3) on the activities of antioxidant enzymes, the contents of non-enzymatic substances (reduced ascorbate (AsA) and reduced glutathione (GSH)), malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), osmoregulation substances (soluble protein, soluble sugar and proline) and the relative water content in the petals of Lilium longiflorum cut flowers. The results showed that LaCl3 significantly increased the activities of peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), the contents of AsA and GSH, and significantly decreased the contents of MDA and H2O2, compared to control. Meanwhile, LaCl3 significantly increased the contents of proline, soluble sugar and soluble protein, and the relative water content. Our results suggested that LaCl3 delayed the senescence of L. longiflorum cut flowers by improving antioxidant defense system and water retaining capacity.