Abstract
Green leaf volatiles are emitted by green plants and induce defence responses. Those with antifungal activities in plants may replace chemicals as natural post-harvest treatments. We investigated the postharvest treatment of strawberry with trans-2-hexenal and cis-3-hexenal and observed a decrease in the mould infection rate. To determine the volatiles’ functions, we conducted a component analysis of the volatiles released from trans-2-hexenal-treated strawberry and analysed gene expression. Several acetates, which were expected to be metabolites of trans-2-hexenal in fruit, were released from treated strawberry; however, these acetates did not inhibit fungal growth. The gene expression analysis suggested that postharvest strawberries were not protected by jasmonic acid-mediated signalling but by another stress-related protein. Harvested strawberries experience stress induced by harvest-related injuries and are unable to perform photosynthesis, which might result in different responses than in normal plants.
Highlights
Intra- and inter-plant signalling events in a variety of plants involve volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
We investigated the optimal concentrations the of C6 aldehydes trans-2-hexenal and cis-3-hexenal as postharvest treatments of strawberry to decrease the B. cinerea infection rate
Exposure to trans-2-hexenal or cis-3-hexenal acted as an effective postharvest treatment to decrease infection by B. cinerea
Summary
Intra- and inter-plant signalling events in a variety of plants involve volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Among GLVs, exposure of A. thaliana to C6 aldehydes, such as trans-2-hexenal and cis-3-hexenal, induces the expression of genes involved in biological defence and resistance to grey mould[7,8]. Living and post-harvested plants demonstrate similar defence responses, which are induced by C6 aldehyde. Expression of defence genes, it may be possible to induce tolerance against fungi at a considerably lower concentration than reported in previous studies that investigated direct antifungal activities. We investigated the optimal concentrations the of C6 aldehydes trans-2-hexenal and cis-3-hexenal as postharvest treatments of strawberry to decrease the B. cinerea infection rate. To determine how trans-2-hexenal induces an antifungal effect against B. cinerea, volatiles from treated strawberries were analysed and a gene expression analysis was performed
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