Abstract
Cold storage is extensively used to slow the rapid deterioration of peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch) fruit after harvest. However, peach fruit subjected to long periods of cold storage develop chilling injury (CI) symptoms. Post-harvest heat treatment (HT) of peach fruit prior to cold storage is effective in reducing some CI symptoms, maintaining fruit quality, preventing softening and controlling post-harvest diseases. To identify the molecular changes induced by HT, which may be associated to CI protection, the differential transcriptome of peach fruit subjected to HT was characterized by the differential display technique. A total of 127 differentially expressed unigenes (DEUs), with a presence-absence pattern, were identified comparing peach fruit ripening at 20°C with those exposed to a 39°C-HT for 3 days. The 127 DEUs were divided into four expression profile clusters, among which the heat-induced (47%) and heat-repressed (36%) groups resulted the most represented, including genes with unknown function, or involved in protein modification, transcription or RNA metabolism. Considering the CI-protection induced by HT, 23-heat-responsive genes were selected and analyzed during and after short-term cold storage of peach fruit. More than 90% of the genes selected resulted modified by cold, from which nearly 60% followed the same and nearly 40% opposite response to heat and cold. Moreover, by using available Arabidopsis microarray data, it was found that nearly 70% of the peach-heat responsive genes also respond to cold in Arabidopsis, either following the same trend or showing an opposite response. Overall, the high number of common responsive genes to heat and cold identified in the present work indicates that HT of peach fruit after harvest induces a cold response involving complex cellular processes; identifying genes that are involved in the better preparation of peach fruit for cold-storage and unraveling the basis for the CI protection induced by HT.
Highlights
Over-represented differential expressed transcripts (DETs) were organized as contigs to eliminate redundancy giving a total of 127 unigenes that are differential expressed (DEUs) among the analyzed samples
By using this binary coded-pattern, 15 different expression patterns were detected among the 127 differentially expressed unigenes (DEUs) (Table 1)
The identification of genes modified by heat and cold tries to unravel the basis for the chilling injury (CI) protection induced by heat treatment (HT) in peach fruit, and highlights molecular candidates with technological application to improve shelf life features of peach fruit
Summary
Batsch) is one of the most popular fruit in the world due to its high nutritional value and pleasant flavor. Cold storage is extensively used to slow the rapid deterioration of this fruit at ambient temperature since it reduces enzymatic activity and slows down the respiratory rhythm, allowing the shipping and marketing. Peach fruits that are subjected to long periods of cold storage develop chilling injury (CI) symptoms [1]. Lack of juiciness (mealiness or woolliness), flesh break-down, black pit cavity, loss of flavor and inability to ripen, are some of the CI symptoms. CI disorders usually become visible when fruits reach the consumers, turning fruits unpalatable and leading to consumer rejection
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
