UV-C irradiation delays strawberry fruit softening and modifies the expression of genes involved in cell wall degradation

The expression of genes for ethylene biosynthesis, ethylene perception, and cell wall degradation in the fruit cortex and fruit abscission zone (FAZ) was examined in relation to preharvest fruit abscission (PFA) and fruit ripening in ‘Golden Delicious’ and ‘Fuji’ apple (Malus ×domestica Borkh.). PFA, fruit ethylene production, and fruit softening increased rapidly during fruit ripening in ‘Golden Delicious’ apples, whereas no PFA, little fruit ethylene, and gradual fruit softening were recorded in ‘Fuji’ apples. The transcript levels of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) synthase genes, MdACS1, MdACS3, and MdACS5A, increased rapidly in the fruit cortex of ‘Golden Delicious’ apples during ripening, but not in ‘Fuji’ apples. However, only the level of MdACS5A mRNA was up-regulated in the FAZ of ‘Golden Delicious’ apples. The transcript level of ACC oxidase gene, MdACO1, increased in the fruit cortex for both cultivars but increased only in the FAZ of ‘Golden Delicious’ apples. Expression of the ethylene receptor genes, MdETR1, MdETR2, MdERS1, and MdERS2, increased in the fruit cortex for both cultivars, but only MdETR2 and MdERS2 increased in the FAZ of ‘Golden Delicious’ apples. The transcript levels of MdPG2, a polygalacturonase gene (PG), and MdEG1, a β-1,4-glucanase gene, markedly increased only in the FAZ of ‘Golden Delicious’ apples, whereas only MdPG1 rapidly increased in the fruit cortex of ‘Golden Delicious’ apples. Our results suggested that MdACS5A, MdACO1, MdPG2, and MdEG1 in the FAZ might be related to the difference in PFA between these two cultivars, whereas MdACS1 and MdPG1 were associated with fruit softening.

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Aminoethoxyvinylglycine Inhibits Fruit Abscission Induced by Naphthaleneacetic Acid and Associated Relationships with Expression of Genes for Ethylene Biosynthesis, Perception, and Cell Wall Degradation in ‘Delicious’ Apples

Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science ◽

10.21273/jashs.133.6.727 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 133 (6) ◽

pp. 727-734 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Hong Zhu ◽

Eric P. Beers ◽

Rongcai Yuan

Keyword(s):

Cell Wall ◽

Ethylene Production ◽

Acc Oxidase ◽

Ethylene Biosynthesis ◽

Naphthaleneacetic Acid ◽

Cell Wall Degradation ◽

Oxidase Gene ◽

Young Fruit ◽

Fruit Abscission ◽

Expression Of Genes

Effects of naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) on young fruit abscission, leaf and fruit ethylene production, and expression of genes related to ethylene biosynthesis and cell wall degradation were examined in ‘Delicious’ apples (Malus ×domestica Borkh.). NAA at 15 mg·L−1 increased fruit abscission and ethylene production of leaves and fruit when applied at the 11-mm stage of fruit development, whereas AVG, an inhibitor of ethylene biosynthesis, at 250 mg·L−1 reduced NAA-induced fruit abscission and ethylene production of leaves and fruit. NAA also increased expression of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) synthase genes (MdACS5A and MdACS5B), ACC oxidase gene (MdACO1), and ethylene receptor genes (MdETR1a, MdETR1b, MdETR2, MdERS1, and MdERS2) in fruit cortex and fruit abscission zones. However, AVG reduced NAA-induced expression of these genes except for MdERS2 in fruit abscission zones. NAA increased expression of the polygalacturonase gene MdPG2 in fruit abscission zones but not in fruit cortex, whereas AVG reduced NAA-enhanced expression of MdPG2 in fruit abscission zones. The expression of β-1,4-glucanase gene MdCel1 in fruit abscission zones was decreased by NAA but was unaffected by AVG. Our results suggest that ethylene biosynthesis, ethylene perception, and the MdPG2 gene are involved in young fruit abscission caused by NAA.

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EFFECT OF SILENCING OF CELL WALL DEGRADING ENZYMES ON STRAWBERRY FRUIT SOFTENING

Acta Horticulturae ◽

10.17660/actahortic.2009.842.206 ◽

2009 ◽

pp. 931-934 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

M.A. Quesada ◽

S. Posé ◽

N. Santiago-Doménech ◽

R. Sesmero ◽

M.C. Molina ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Wall ◽

Fruit Softening ◽

Strawberry Fruit ◽

Cell Wall Degrading Enzymes ◽

Degrading Enzymes

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Effect of heat treatments on gene expression and enzyme activities associated to cell wall degradation in strawberry fruit

Postharvest Biology and Technology ◽

10.1016/j.postharvbio.2008.01.013 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 49 (1) ◽

pp. 38-45 ◽

Cited By ~ 48

Author(s):

Gustavo A. Martínez ◽

Pedro M. Civello

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Cell Wall ◽

Enzyme Activities ◽

Heat Treatments ◽

Strawberry Fruit ◽

Cell Wall Degradation

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Genome wide identification and functional characterization of strawberry pectin methylesterases related to fruit softening

BMC Plant Biology ◽

10.1186/s12870-019-2225-9 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Cheng Xue ◽

Si-Cong Guan ◽

Jian-Qing Chen ◽

Chen-Jin Wen ◽

Jian-Fa Cai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Wall ◽

Fruit Ripening ◽

Genetic Manipulation ◽

Functional Characterization ◽

Hydrolytic Enzyme ◽

Wall Structure ◽

Fruit Softening ◽

Fruit Firmness ◽

Strawberry Fruit ◽

Cell Wall Modification

Abstract Background Pectin methylesterase (PME) is a hydrolytic enzyme that catalyzes the demethylesterification of homogalacturonans and controls pectin reconstruction, being essential in regulation of cell wall modification. During fruit ripening stage, PME-mediated cell wall remodeling is an important process to determine fruit firmness and softening. Strawberry fruit is a soft fruit with a short postharvest life, due to a rapid loss of firm texture. Hence, preharvest improvement of strawberry fruit rigidity is a prerequisite for extension of fruit refreshing time. Although PME has been well characterized in model plants, knowledge regarding the functionality and evolutionary property of PME gene family in strawberry remain limited. Results A total of 54 PME genes (FvPMEs) were identified in woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca ‘Hawaii 4’). Phylogeny and gene structure analysis divided these FvPME genes into four groups (Group 1–4). Duplicate events analysis suggested that tandem and dispersed duplications effectively contributed to the expansion of the PME family in strawberry. Through transcriptome analysis, we identified FvPME38 and FvPME39 as the most abundant-expressed PMEs at fruit ripening stages, and they were positively regulated by abscisic acid. Genetic manipulation of FvPME38 and FvPME39 by overexpression and RNAi-silencing significantly influences the fruit firmness, pectin content and cell wall structure, indicating a requirement of PME for strawberry fruit softening. Conclusion Our study globally analyzed strawberry pectin methylesterases by the approaches of phylogenetics, evolutionary prediction and genetic analysis. We verified the essential role of FvPME38 and FvPME39 in regulation of strawberry fruit softening process, which provided a guide for improving strawberry fruit firmness by modifying PME level.

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Effects of 1-Methylcyclopropene and Naphthaleneacetic Acid on Fruit Set and Expression of Genes Related to Ethylene Biosynthesis and Perception and Cell Wall Degradation in Apple

Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science ◽

10.21273/jashs.135.5.402 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 135 (5) ◽

pp. 402-409 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Hong Zhu ◽

Rongcai Yuan ◽

Duane W. Greene ◽

Eric P. Beers

Keyword(s):

Cell Wall ◽

Fruit Set ◽

Ethylene Biosynthesis ◽

Apple Fruit ◽

Naphthaleneacetic Acid ◽

Cell Wall Degradation ◽

Fruit Abscission ◽

Expression Of Genes ◽

Small Influence ◽

Negative Effect

The effects of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) on fruit set and the expression of genes related to ethylene biosynthesis and perception and cell wall degradation in apple (Malus ×domestica Borkh.) were studied when applied during the normal chemical thinning period. 1-MCP at 209 mg·L−1 had a small negative effect or no effect on the final fruit set, depending on the experiment, but could cause a transient delay of June drop when applied at petal fall or the 10-mm stage in ‘Pioneer McIntosh’ apple. 1-MCP at 160 mg·L−1 had no effect on fruit abscission but induced ethylene production by leaves and fruit of ‘Golden Delicious’ apple. NAA at 6 or 15 mg·L−1 effectively increased fruit abscission in both apple cultivars. NAA enhanced the expression of genes related to ethylene biosynthesis (MdACS5A, MdACS5B, and MdACO1) or perception (MdETR1, MdETR1b, MdETR2, MdERS1, and MdERS2) and cell wall degradation (MdPG2). 1-MCP did not affect the expression of MdACS5A and MdACS5B in the fruit abscission zone (FAZ), although it enhanced the expression of these two genes in the fruit cortex (FC) from 6 hours to 1 day after treatment. The expression of MdACO1 in both tissues was increased by 1-MCP by 3 days post-treatment and thereafter. 1-MCP had only a small influence on the expression of most ethylene receptor genes, with the exception of MdETR1, which was upregulated in the FC to a level similar to that observed for NAA treatment. In response to 1-MCP, in the FAZ, the expression of MdCel1 and MdPG2 was upregulated at the beginning and the end, respectively, of the experiment, but otherwise remained at or below control levels. 1-MCP did not inhibit NAA-induced abscission of young apple fruit, suggesting that abscission does not solely depend on ethylene signal transduction, or that the periods of effectiveness for 1-MCP and ethylene were asynchronous.

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