Abstract
Abscission is a cell separation process by which plants can shed organs such as fruits, leaves, or flowers. The process takes place in specific locations termed abscission zones. In fruit crops like citrus, fruit abscission represents a high percentage of annual yield losses. Thus, understanding the molecular regulation of abscission is of capital relevance to control production. To identify genes preferentially expressed within the citrus fruit abscission zone (AZ-C), we performed a comparative transcriptomics assay at the cell type resolution level between the AZ-C and adjacent fruit rind cells (non-abscising tissue) during ethylene-promoted abscission. Our strategy combined laser microdissection with microarray analysis. Cell wall modification-related gene families displayed prominent representation in the AZ-C. Phylogenetic analyses of such gene families revealed a link between phylogenetic proximity and expression pattern during abscission suggesting highly conserved roles for specific members of these families in abscission. Our transcriptomic data was validated with (and strongly supported by) a parallel approach consisting on anatomical, histochemical and biochemical analyses on the AZ-C during fruit abscission. Our work identifies genes potentially involved in organ abscission and provides relevant data for future biotechnology approaches aimed at controlling such crucial process for citrus yield.
Highlights
Abscission is a cell separation process by which plants can shed their aerial organs
We carried out a comparison between orange (C. sinensis) fruits incubated with ethylene or its immediate metabolic precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) and fruits incubated with air or water
We observed a faster decrease of fruit detachment force (FDF) in both Washington Navel and Ricalate Navel fruits treated with ethylene/ACC in comparison to air-/watertreated control fruits (Figure 1A)
Summary
Abscission is a cell separation process by which plants can shed their aerial organs. Cell Wall Remodeling during Abscission or citrus. In this way, understanding abscission at the molecular level is of top relevance to understand a fundamental process for plant physiology and to generate new, improved, highly productive crops. A current example is the expansion of late-season varieties of sweet orange in the citrus market. In such varieties, the decline in the fruit retention force is delayed during the maturing period in comparison with early and mid-season varieties (Gallasch, 1996) that usually undergo pre-harvest fruit abscission (SpiegelRoy and Goldschmidt, 1996). Late-season varieties of sweet orange extend the fruit harvesting season benefiting growers and food industry
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