ABA catabolism during development and storage in mangoes: Influence of jasmonates

Abstract

SummaryEndogenous abscisic acid (ABA), phaseic acid (PA), dihydrophaseic acid (DPA) and epi-DPA concentrations in the skin, pulp and seed of mangoes (Mangifera indica L.) were quantified during development and storage using (±)-[3’, 5’, 5’, 7’, 7’, 7’-2H6] ABA and [7’, 7’, 7’-2H3]-PA, -DPA and epi-DPA as the internal standards. ABA in the skin and pulp increased toward harvest. In addition, the increase in ABA coincided with a decrease in fruit firmness. These results suggest that ABA may induce the maturation of mangoes. In contrast, ABA in the seed decreased toward harvest, suggesting a lack of dormancy of the mango seed. In the skin, pulp and seed, concentrations of DPA or epi-DPA coincided with those of ABA. Therefore, the PA-DPA pathway may be predominant in mango skin, pulp and seed. ABA, DPA and epi-DPA contents increased in stored fruit, but were not found to be associated with the relative humidity conditions of storage. n-Propyl dihydrojasmonate (PDJ) treatment at 91 days after full bloom (DAFB) decreased endogenous ABA and its metabolite, but not at 70 DAFB. Our results suggest that the interaction between ABA and jasmonates may differ with fruit growth stages.