Basis Of Fruit Research Articles

Genome Assembly and Winged fruit Gene Regulation of Chinese Wingnut: Insights from Genomic and Transcriptomic Analyses.

The genomic basis and biology of winged fruit are interesting issues in ecological and evolutionary biology. Chinese wingnut (Pterocarya stenoptera) is an important garden and economic tree species in China. The genomic resources of this hardwood tree could provide advanced genomic studies of Juglandaceae and their evolutionary relationships. Here, we reported a high-quality reference genome of P. stenoptera (N50 = 35.15 Mb) and provided a comparative analysis of Juglandaceae genomes. Paralogous relationships among the 16 chromosomes of the Chinese wingnut genome revealed eight main duplications representing the subgenome. Molecular dating suggested that the most recent common ancestor of P. stenopetera and Cyclocarya paliurus diverged from Juglans around 56.7 million years ago (Mya). The expanded and contracted gene families were associated with cutin, suberine, and wax biosynthesis, cytochrome P450, and anthocyanin biosynthesis. We identified large inversion blocks between the P. stenoptera genome and its relatives, which are enriched in genes related lipid biosynthesis and metabolism, and starch and sucrose metabolism. The twenty-eight individuals were clearly clustered into three groups responding to three species, namely Pterocarya macroptera, Pterocarya hupehensis, and P. stenoptera, based on whole genome resequencing data. Morphological and gene expression analysis showed that CAD, COMT, LOX, and MADS-box play important roles during the five developmental stages of wingnuts. Our study highlights the evolutionary history of the P. stenoptera genome and supports P. stenoptera as an appropriate Juglandaceae model for studying winged fruits. These results provide a theoretical basis for the evolution, development, and diversity of woody plant winged fruits.

Genetic mapping and molecular marker development for white flesh color in tomato.

Fruit color significantly influences the quality of horticultural crops, which affects phytochemical diversity and consumer preferences. Despite its importance, the genetic basis of the white-colored fruit in tomatoes remains poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrate that white-fleshed tomato varieties accumulate fewer carotenoids than yellow-fleshed varieties. We developed various segregating populations by hybridizing red, yellow, and white fruit tomato cultivars. Genetic analysis revealed that the white fruit color trait is controlled by a single gene that dominates both red and yellow fruits. Bulk segregant RNA sequencing provided a preliminary map of a 3.17 Mb region on chromosome 3 associated with the white color trait. Based on kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) markers, we narrowed the candidate gene region to 819 kb. Within this region, we identified a 4906-bp sequence absence variation near Phytoene Synthase 1 (SlPSY1) specific to white-colored tomatoes. Genotyping of the progeny and natural populations using a single nucleotide polymorphism adjacent to this absence of variation confirmed its key role in white fruit formation. Collectively, our findings provide insights into white fruit trait formation in tomatoes, enabling tomato breeders to precisely introduce white fruit traits for commercial exploitation.

A lightweight improved YOLOv5s model and its deployment for detecting pitaya fruits in daytime and nighttime light-supplement environments

Precise detection and low-cost deployment are the technological basis of intelligent fruit picking. This study proposes a lightweight improved YOLOv5s model to detect pitaya fruits in daytime and nighttime light-supplement environments, and make it successfully deploy in an Android device. This model first uses the module of shufflenetv2 to reconstruct the YOLOv5s backbone network. Then, the study proposes a Concentrated-Comprehensive Convolution Receptive Field Enhancement (C3RFE) module to improve the detection precision of pitaya fruits. Furthermore, a Bidirectional Feature Pyramid Network(BiFPN) feature fusion method is used to enhance the multi-scale feature fusion. Moreover, three optimized Squeeze-and-Excitation (SE) attention modules are added to make full use of the image feature information. Finally, a dynamic label allocation strategy simple Optimal Transport Assignment (simOTA) is used to optimize the YOLOv5s model original label allocation strategy. The experimental results show that the improved model achieves an average precision rate of 97.80 %, with frames per second (FPS) of 139 FPS in a GPU run environment. The model size is only 2.5 MB. Compared to the state-of-the-art SSD, Faster RCNN, YOLOv4, YOLOv4 tiny, YOLOv5s, YOLOv5Lite-s, YOLOXs, YOLOv7, YOLOv7-tiny, YOLOv8n and YOLOv8s, the improved YOLOv5s achieve preferred comprehensive performance in average precision rate, FPS and model size. When deploying this model on the Realme GT Android mobile phone by developing an application based on an NCNN framework, such an application accomplishes real-time pitaya fruit detection with an FPS exceeding 30 FPS. This study can provide technological support for a precise and effective pitaya fruit intelligent picking.

The effect of intaking a new sport food on milk and fruit basis on blood biochemical indicators and antioxidant status in athletes

The problem of developing special food with targeted medical and biological properties is a pressing issue not only for sports medicine, but also for nutrition science. The aim of the research was to provide a medical and biological justification for the development and to evaluate the effectiveness of using new sport food (SF) in the form of a bar. Material and methods. The milk-fruit bar was developed on the basis of dry goat milk, dry whey, fruit and berry and grain raw materials, hydrolysate and isolate of plant and animal proteins, vitamin premix, as well as dry cultures of lacto- and bifidobacteria Bifidobacterium bifidum BB79, Streptococcus lactis SL215, Lactobacillus acidophilus LA72 (in a 1:1:1 ratio). The assessment of the effectiveness of a SF was carried out on 2 groups of professional athletes involved in martial arts (MMA), Greco-Roman wrestling, triathlons and pentathlon. 42 athletes were included in the control group and 46 athletes were included in the main group. Athletes in the main group consumed 4 milk-fruit bars (120 g) daily in addition to their basic diet, while athletes in the control group received placebo bars equivalent in calorie value (150 g). The complex examination before and after a 21-day training cycle, in combination with SF intake, included the study of body composition, hematological (red blood cells, hemoglobin, leukocytes, lymphocytes, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, hematocrit) and biochemical studies (plasma total protein, albumin, cholesterol, lactate) as well as studying the antioxidant status of athletes [malondialdehyde (MDA) and diene conjugates (DC) in blood serum]. Results. On the 21st day of SF intake, the cholesterol level decreased by 14.5-18.9% (p<0.05) in individuals involved in Greco-Roman wrestling, MMA and triathlon, in athletes involved in pentathlon - by 11.3% (p>0.05) compared to the initial level in blood plasma. Lactate level also lowered in athletes involved in Greco-Roman wrestling and triathlon by 14.2-28.3% (p<0.05), in other sports - by 12.2-17.6% (p>0.05). At the same time, these indicators did not change significantly in athletes from the control group. In addition, the lactate level in triathletes at the end of the study was 23.2% lower compared to the level in athletes from the control group (p<0.05). SF intake led to the decrease (p<0.05) in blood serum of athletes involved in the presented sports of MDA level by 20.0-27.9% (except for triathletes) and of DC - by 14.3-48.5% (except for athletes involved in Greco-Roman wrestling). In athletes of the control group after taking a placebo bar, the level of MDA significantly decreased by 20.0% only in individuals involved in MMA. Conclusion. The developed SF can be recommended for nutrition of athletes involved in various sports.

Novel R2R3 MYB transcription factors regulate anthocyanin synthesis in Aubergine tomato plants

BackgroundA high content in anthocyanins, for their health beneficial properties, represents an added value for fruits and vegetables. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is one of the most consumed vegetables worldwide and is rich in vitamins and carotenoids. In recent years, purple-skinned tomatoes, enriched of anthocyanins, were produced recovering allelic variants from wild Solanum species. The molecular basis of the Anthocyanin fruit (Aft) locus, exploited by breeders to activate the anthocyanin synthesis in tomato epicarp, has been recently identified in the correct splicing of the R2R3 MYB gene AN2like. Aubergine (Abg) is a tomato accession which introgressed from Solanum lycopersicoides a locus activating the synthesis of anthocyanins in the fruit. The Abg locus was mapped in the region of chromosome 10 containing Aft and the possibility that Abg and Aft represented alleles of the same gene was hypothesized.ResultsWe dissected the R2R3 MYB gene cluster located in the Abg genomic introgression and demonstrated that AN2like is correctly spliced in Abg plants and is expressed in the fruit epicarp. Moreover, its silencing specifically inhibits the anthocyanin synthesis. The Abg allele of AN2like undergoes alternative splicing and produces two proteins with different activities. Furthermore, in Abg the master regulator of the anthocyanin synthesis in tomato vegetative tissues, AN2, is very poorly expressed. Finally, a novel R2R3 MYB gene was identified: it encodes another positive regulator of the pathway, whose activity was lost in tomato and in its closest relatives.ConclusionIn this study, we propose that AN2like is responsible of the anthocyanin production in Abg fruits. Unlike wild type tomato, the Abg allele of AN2like is active and able to regulate its targets. Furthermore, in Abg alternative splicing leads to two forms of AN2like with different activities, likely representing a novel type of regulation of anthocyanin synthesis in tomato.

Fruits of Anacardiaceae from the Paleogene of the Paris Basin, France

Premise of research. The Anacardiaceae family is distributed throughout the vegetated continents. The fossil record indicates extensive diversification of the family during the Paleogene and, in particular, during the Eocene. Despite the abundant fossil record of this period, there are only a few reliable anacardiaceous fossils in the Paris Basin. Here, we aim to document newly recognized fossils of Anacardiaceae from the Paris Basin, understand their paleoecology, and discuss their biogeographic history.Methodology. Thirty-three lignite fruits were examined from two sites, one before and one after the Paleocene-Eocene boundary (i.e., Petit Pâtis [Rivecourt] and Le Quesnoy [Houdancourt]). The specimens were photographed, and anatomy was studied using computed tomography and histological sections. Comparative analyses were undertaken using available descriptions of fossil and modern fruits of Anacardiaceae.Pivotal results. A new species, Cyrtocarpa biapertura sp. nov., is described on the basis of a unilocular fruit with two prominent apertures present on the ventral side of the endocarp, protruding into two lacunae surrounding the locule. Taphonomic analysis indicates that this plant grew close to riverbanks. Furthermore, a new record of “Lannea” europaea (Reid and Chandler) Chandler is reported for the Eocene site.Conclusions. The occurrence of Cyrtocarpa in both the Paleocene and the Eocene floras in the Paris Basin suggests similar vegetation during both time intervals. It is likely that both floras grew under similar subtropical climates. Moreover, it appears that the early Eocene shows an enrichment of the paleodiversity of Anacardiaceae and other plant families in the Paris Basin. The presence of Cyrtocarpa documents a rarely reported disjunction between the Paleogene of Europe and the recent tropical flora of South America.

Genome-wide association analysis of 101 accessions dissects the genetic basis of shell thickness for genetic improvement in Persian walnut (Juglans regia L.)

BackgroundUnderstanding the underlying genetic mechanisms that drive phenotypic variations is essential for enhancing the efficacy of crop improvement. Persian walnut (Juglans regia L.), which is grown extensively worldwide, is an important economic tree fruit due to its horticultural, medicinal, and material value. The quality of the walnut fruit is related to the selection of traits such as thinner shells, larger filling rates, and better taste, which is very important for breeding in China. The complex quantitative fruit-related traits are influenced by a variety of physiological and environmental factors, which can vary widely between walnut genotypes.ResultsFor this study, a set of 101 Persian walnut accessions were re-sequenced, which generated a total of 906.2 Gb of Illumina sequence data with an average read depth of 13.8× for each accession. We performed the genome-wide association study (GWAS) using 10.9 Mb of high-quality single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 10 agronomic traits to explore the underlying genetic basis of the walnut fruit. Several candidate genes are proposed to be involved in walnut characteristics, including JrPXC1, JrWAKL8, JrGAMYB, and JrFRK1. Specifically, the JrPXC1 gene was confirmed to participate in the regulation of secondary wall cellulose thickening in the walnut shell.ConclusionIn addition to providing considerable available genetic resources for walnut trees, this study revealed the underlying genetic basis involved in important walnut agronomic traits, particularly shell thickness, as well as providing clues for the improvement of genetic breeding and domestication in other perennial economic crops.

Physiological and biochemical mechanisms of fruit cracking: A review

Fruit cracking is a serious physiological disorder that affects fruit quality and productivity. It is a pre-harvest disorder that results in poor quality of fruits; these are not marketable and cause economic losses to growers. Generally, fruit cracking occurs during the second phase of fruit growth when expanding pulp induces pressure to peel and peel becomes thinner and microcracks appear, ultimately fruit splits and drops off from tree. Several factors that contribute to fruit cracking are irregular water supply, heavy crop load, warm-humid climatic conditions, nutrient mis-management and hormonal imbalance. Cultivars having thinner peels and deficiency of Ca, K, B and P in soils are more prone to fruit cracking. This review provides the physiological and biochemical basis of fruit cracking along with recommended control measures to reduce this disorder. Foliar application of synthetic auxins, gibberellins and minerals (Ca, Zn, P and B) at different time intervals for different species to significantly reduce fruit cracking is included in this review. Further molecular studies need to be proposed to study the actual mechanism of cracking through function of genesand biotechnological approaches can be followed so that cracking resistant varieties are produced

INSECTS POLLINATORS OF FRUIT AND BERRY CROPS DISTRIBUTED IN UKRAINE (ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE ROSACEA FAMILY)

Global pollination crisis for agricultural and natural ecosystems has emerged during the last decades. Man gets a great amount of food from entomophilous plants. That is why preservation and protection of anthophilic species of insects as the main agents of pollination is currently an urgent problem. Rosaceae is among the leading plant families in terms of the number of species in Ukraine. Rosaceae occupies top places in terms of the number of species in the certain regions of the country: the Black Sea region – VI - VII, Buko-vyna - III, the Crimea - V. Rosaceae species are of great national economic importance and are the basis of fruit and berry production in Ukraine. The issue of economic importance has been studied. It has been shown that the fifth part of the family belongs to honey plants. The authors conducted the analysis of literature sources over the past 20 years regarding the forms and ways of pollination of entomophilous species of the Rosaceae family included in the "State Register of Plant Varieties Suitable for Distribution in Ukraine" as of 2022. According to the collected information, we developed a database. We complied the list of insects as pollinating agents for entomophilous species of the Rosaceae family, included in the State Register. The list of 15 species and 2 hybrids belonging to 8 genera and three subfamilies was developed. For them, the predominance of cross-pollination and the presence of a complex combined variant are shown. The analysis of the data on insects which pollinate plant species of the Rosaceae family reflected in the literary made it possible to single out the main groups of pollinating agents: Hymenoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera, and Lepidoptera. The melitophily as the predominant way of pollination with honey bee Apis mellifera L. as the universal agent has been proved. However, the species composition of the associated anthophilic complex is fragmentarily reflected in the available literature and requires further research.

Performance evaluation of phase change material (PCM) based hybrid photovoltaic/thermal solar dryer for drying arid fruits

Indian jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana) and Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) the most important fruit crops that can grow in India's hot arid regions. The perishable nature of Indian jujube and date fruits leads to post-harvest loss. Both of these fruits are highly perishable, containing more than 80% moisture. Moisture needs to be reduced to less than 20% for storing it for a longer period of time. A phase change material (PCM) based hybrid solar dryer was developed, which consisted of the collector of area 1.06 m2 and two drying trays made of SS (0.50 m2) and that two half trays (0.24 m2). The performance of the developed PCM dryer was evaluated by drying fresh Indian jujube and date palm fruits having an initial moisture content of 65–80% (wet basis) and compared with the developed dryer without PCM. The drying system works so that phase-change material stores the thermal energy during sunshine hours and releases it at night. Therefore, the dryer is effectively operative for the next 5–6 h. The temperature of the drying chamber was observed as 6 °C higher than the ambient temperature in July 2020 during date palm drying after sunshine hours till midnight and it falls gradually, and temperature in the drying chamber was observed as 5°Celsius higher than the ambient temperature in January 2021 during Indian jujube drying. The variations in moisture content (wet basis) of the Indian jujube fruit are reduced from 80% to 22% within seven days by using the dryer with PCM and in 9 days dryer without PCM. In date palm fruit, MC reduced from 65 to 20% in 6 days in the dryer with PCM and eight days without PCM. The thermal efficiency (η) of PCM based hybrid photovoltaic thermal (PV/T) solar dryer (η = 18.0%) was found better than that of natural convection mode without PCM based hybrid solar dryer (η = 15.8%). The developed solar dryer provides a promising alternative for drying other arid food produced after sunshine hours with a real-time data acquisition system. It is also found to be superior in retaining quality.

Efficacy of some biopesticides for the management of cucurbit fruit fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae Coquillett) infesting bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) in Barind tract of Bangladesh

An experiment was carried out to evaluate the efficiency of different biopesticides against the fruit fly infestation on bottle gourd. All of the treatments were effective compared to control. Among the treatments, Spinosad (Tracer 45 SC) performed the best based on minimum percent fruit infestation on both number and weight basis (30.71% & 32.64%) & highest percent protection of fruit over control (60.86% & 58.94%). Again, the highest marketable fruit yield (60.43 ton/ha) and percent yield increase of marketable fruit (70.46%) were also observed on Spinosad (Tracer 45 SC) treated plot. Based on the same parameters, Neem oil was inferior to Spinosad (Tracer 45 SC), which was followed by the treatment of Abamectin (Ambush 1.8 EC), Allamanda leaf extract and Mahogany oil. Thereby among all the treatments tested, Spinosad (Tracer 45 SC) may be suggested for cucurbit fruit fly management on bottle gourds.

FORMULASI DAN EVALUASI HAND SANITIZER SPRAY EKSTRAK BUAH BELIMBING WULUH (Averrhoa bilimbi L)

The tendency of society at this time to return to nature (Back to nature) is by using plants as treatment. The use of star fruit as the main ingredient in the manufacture of a hand sanitizer spray on the basis of star fruit has flavonoid compounds that have the potential as antibacterial. Hand sanitizer spray is made into 3 formulas with a concentration ratio of F1 (10%), F2 (12%), and F3 (15%). Each formula was subjected to physical tests in the form of organoleptic tests, pH tests, homogeneity tests and freeze and thaw stability tests for 6 storage cycles at 4°C and 40°C. The organoleptic results showed that the preparation did not change during four weeks of storage. On examination, the pH of the preparation decreased for F1 with a pH of 5.25 to 4.88; F2 with a pH of 5.14 becomes 4.77, and F3 with a pH of 4.87 becomes 4.60 but this value is still included in the specified range. The homogeneity of the preparations F1, F2, and F3 was only homogeneous in the first week and for the stability of the preparations F1, F2 and F3 were only stable in cycle 1 and cycle 2.

Improvement of the method for producing confitures from fruit raw materials

The object of research is the method of production of comfiture from fruit and vegetable raw materials. The production of comfiture using traditional technologies is characterized by the loss of physiologically functional ingredients of raw materials. Such losses can reach up to 60 % of the initial amount, depending on the temperature regime and the duration of heat treatment. A negative factor in the storage of ready-made comfitures is sugar crystallization. Equipment for the implementation of traditional processes of processing fruits and vegetables is characterized by high productivity, low efficiency and operational difficulties. Boiling in the traditional way is carried out at high-temperature conditions, which leads to a decrease in the content of functionally physiological ingredients and the nutritional value of the resulting comfitures. In the production of comfiture on the basis of fruit and vegetable raw materials, the following recipe ratio of components was used: apple – 60 %; Jerusalem artichoke – 25 %; cornelian cherry – 15 %. The improved method is characterized by gentle heat exchange operations, in particular: drying is carried out in an infrared dryer at a temperature of 40–50 °C to a dry matter content of 30–40 %. And also by further boiling of the mass in a vacuum evaporator based on a flexible film resistive radiating electric heater (FFRREH) at 50–60 °C. The use of inverted syrup in the recipe during boiling prevents sugar crystallization during storage of the finished product. Comparative analysis of the heating kinetics of comfiture from fruit and vegetable raw materials confirms the reduction in the duration of reaching the stationary mode (55 °C) when using a vacuum evaporator based on FFRREH by 1.6 times, compared with an analog apparatus. Such a hardware-constructive solution will ensure a decrease in the consumption of energy resources with a simultaneous increase in the quality characteristics of products.

Analysis of the molecular basis of fruit cracking susceptibility in Litchi chinensis cv. Baitangying by transcriptome and quantitative proteome profiling

Fruit cracking is a serious problem in Litchi chinensis cv. Baitangying orchards, but few advances have been made in understanding the molecular basis of cracking susceptibility in 'Baitangying'. In this work, we conducted transcriptome and quantitative proteome analyses of the pericarps of three kinds of litchi: noncracking 'Feizixiao' (cracking-resistant cultivar, F), noncracking 'Baitangying' (B), and cracking 'Baitangying' (CB). A total of 101 genes and 14 proteins with the same regulatory changes were found to overlap between CB vs. B and B vs. F, and we focused on these results to avoid the effects of passive progression after fruit cracking. The obtained data suggest that fruit cracking susceptibility in 'Baitangying' is related to pericarp photosynthetic characteristics and the oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids in this cultivar, which lead to changes in cuticle structure. Furthermore, differences in the pericarp hormone balance between 'Baitangying' and 'Feizixiao' may influence the susceptibility of 'Baitangying' to fruit cracking. This integrated analysis of transcriptomic and proteomic data indicates that susceptibility to fruit cracking in 'Baitangying' litchi is regulated both translationally and posttranslationally. Our results may help provide a new perspective for further study of the mechanisms that govern fruit cracking susceptibility in 'Baitangying' litchi and other fruits.

THE POSSIBILITY OF USING PECTIN OF CONIFEROUS TREES AS STRUCTURE-FORMING

In recent years, the demand for food has sharply increased in functional ingredients, especially in pectin. At present, there is no production of pectin substances in the Russian Federation, and the demand for them is satisfied, mainly due to the use of imported pectin. At the same time, the country has prerequisites for its own production of pectin from non-traditional types of raw materials, for example, bark of coniferous trees, which in the form of waste is produced in large quantities when processing wood in the timber, woodworking and pulp and paper industries, and goes to incineration, although its can be used to obtain such a valuable substance as pectin. The article considers the possibility of using pectins from the bark of coniferous trees in the production of fruit and vegetable nectars with pulp as a biological additive that improves the consistency of the product. To confirm this, VNII researchers of conservation technology conducted studies to test pectin from the bark of spruce and larch on their structure-forming ability. For this purpose, experimental samples of fruit and vegetable nectars with pulp were made: apricot, quince, cherry, redcod, plum and carrot, obtained on the basis of fruit and vegetable purees, as well as the calculated amount of sugar syrup with a certain concentration, with the addition of pectin from the spruce bark and larch, and for comparison samples with the addition of ordinary apple pectin. Pectin was added as a 10% solution in an amount of 9.0% of the total weight of nectar (in terms of dry pectin – 0.9%), which allowed to provide a homogeneous, non-dissolving consistency of nectars.

Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Actinidia arguta Fruits Reveals the Involvement of Various Transcription Factors in Ripening

The fruit of Actinidia arguta is typically climacteric. During ripening, the fruits produce a large amount of ethylene. Although the molecular basis of climacteric fruit ripening has been extensively studied, some aspects such as its transcriptional regulation remain unclear. Here, we compared the transcriptomes of A. arguta fruits collected at commercial harvest (sample d0) and at 6 days after harvest (sample d6) using RNA-seq. A total of 3 659 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between samples d0 and d6 were detected, of which 2 983 and 1 104 could be functionally annotated with Gene Ontology (GO) and Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COG) pathways. DEGs involved in ethylene biosynthesis and signal transduction were identified, including ACO (c79627), ERF061 (c105131), and ERF6 (c99193). Transcription factors such as ERF, bHLH, NAC, MADS, and MYB were also differentially expressed between samples d0 and d6. Selected DEGs were subjected to further analysis using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and the results coincided with those of RNA-seq. Our data revealed additional transcription factors that are involved in the regulation of fruit ripening. These results provide useful information for future research on the transcriptional regulation of fruit ripening.

Tomato Flavor: Lost and Found?

Tomato Flavor: Lost and Found?

The Existence Basis of Fruit and Vegetable Vendors to Food Service Companies in Korea

The Existence Basis of Fruit and Vegetable Vendors to Food Service Companies in Korea

Comparative transcriptome analysis of climacteric fruit of Chinese pear (Pyrus ussuriensis) reveals new insights into fruit ripening.

The fruit of Pyrus ussuriensis is typically climacteric. During ripening, the fruits produce a large amount of ethylene, and their firmness drops rapidly. Although the molecular basis of climacteric fruit ripening has been studied in depth, some aspects remain unclear. Here, we compared the transcriptomes of pre- and post-climacteric fruits of Chinese pear (P. ussuriensis c.v. Nanguo) using RNA-seq. In total, 3,279 unigenes were differentially expressed between the pre- and post-climacteric fruits. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were subjected to Gene Ontology analysis, and 31 categories were significantly enriched in the groups ‘biological process’, ‘molecular function’ and ‘cellular component’. The DEGs included genes related to plant hormones, such as ethylene, ABA, auxin, GA and brassinosteroid, and transcription factors, such as MADS, NAC, WRKY and HSF. Moreover, genes encoding enzymes related to DNA methylation, cytoskeletal proteins and heat shock proteins (HSPs) showed differential expression between the pre- and post-climacteric fruits. Select DEGs were subjected to further analysis using quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR), and the results were consistent with those of RNA-seq. Our data suggest that in addition to ethylene, other hormones play important roles in regulating fruit ripening and may interact with ethylene signaling during this process. DNA methylation-related methyltransferase and cytoskeletal protein genes are also involved in fruit ripening. Our results provide useful information for future research on pear fruit ripening.

SEED AND FRUIT ANATOMY OF CASSYTHA FILIFORMIS L. WITH COMMENTS ON ITS SYSTEMATIC POSITION

ABSTRACT The developmental anatomy of fruit and seed in Cassytha filiformis is studied. The fruit is a drupe enclosed by the enlarged, inflated, succulent calyx tube. The ripe pericarp consists of three layers: outer epidermis, inner epidermis of palisade and a layer of sclereids above the inner epidermis. The mature seed coat is formed entirely by the testa. The outer epidermis of the testa consists of large cells with unlignified walls, and the inner epidermis acquires characteristic helical thickenings. On the basis of fruit and seed characters it is suggested that the genus Cassytha rightly belongs to the family Lauraceae.