Cucumber Fruit Development Research Articles

Cloning and expression analysis of Cs-TIR1/AFB2: the fruit development-related genes of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

Phytohormone auxin plays an important role in fruit development and is perceived by the TIR1/AFB family of F-box proteins as auxin receptors involved in auxin signal pathway. Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) fruit development is either parthenocarpic or non-parthenocarpic. However, little is known on TIR1 and AFB participation in the early stage of cucumber fruit development. In present study, TIR1 and AFB2 were isolated from cucumber. CsTIR1 and CsAFB2 were highly expressed in leaves and ovaries. Their transcript levels decreased in parthenocarpic and pollinated fruits, but continuously up-regulated in aborted fruits, indicating that down-regulation of CsTIR1 and CsAFB2 may be in favor of cucumber fruit set and development. The transcript levels of CsTIR1 and CsAFB2 were significantly induced in leaves by NAA, 6-BA, GA3, ABA, and ethephon. The expression levels were up-regulated by ABA and ethephon treatments. This expression patterns was accordant with the aborted fruits. Thus, CsTIR1 and CsAFB2 may be important regulators during cucumber fruit development.

Backcross introgression of plastomic factors controlling chilling tolerance into elite cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) germplasm: early generation recovery of recurrent parent phenotype

Environmental stresses such as chilling temperatures can decrease germination, emergence, flower and fruit development, marketable yield, and postharvest fruit storage longevity in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). While response to chilling injury in cucumber is controlled by simple plastidic (maternal) and nuclear (paternal) factors, no chilling tolerant U.S. processing varieties are commercially available. Furthermore, even though three single nucleotide polymorphic sites have been identified as plastid components associated with chilling tolerance in cucumber, it is not known how these factors interact with nuclear factors controlling economically important traits. Therefore, an experiment was designed to evaluate the rate of recovery of the chilling susceptible (cytoplasm) genotype during introgression backcrossing (IB), where it was used as a recurrent parent after the initial mating to a line possessing chilling tolerant cytoplasm (donor parent). Phenotypic yield and quality trait data were collected on processing type backcross progeny (BC1–5 and BC2S3) derived from an initial ‘Chipper’ (tolerant) × line M 29 (susceptible) mating, and rate of progression to the recurrent parent was determined by simple sequence repeat marker and morphological trait analyses. Substantial degrees of the recurrent parent phenotype and nuclear genome were recovered by the BC2 generation (P = 0.001), with nearly complete recovery of recurrent parental traits and its nuclear genome occurring by the BC3. General combining ability (GCA) of derived BC2S3 lines was significant for yield, yield/plant, length (L), diameter (D), and L:D ratios. The BC2S3 line GCA and rate of progression towards the recurrent parent for economically important traits suggests that elite chilling tolerant cucumber germplasm can be developed rapidly through IB and marker genotyping.

Characterization and expression profiling of cucumber kinesin genes during early fruit development: revealing the roles of kinesins in exponential cell production and enlargement in cucumber fruit

Rapid cell division and expansion in early fruit development are important phases for cucumber fruit yield and quality. Kinesin proteins are microtubule-based motors responsible for modulating cell division and enlargement. In this work, the candidate kinesin genes involved in rapid cell division and expansion during cucumber fruit development were investigated. The morphological and cellular changes during early fruit development were compared in four cucumber genotypes with varied fruit size. The correlation between the expression profiles of cucumber kinesin genes and cellular changes in fruit was investigated. Finally, the biochemical characteristics and subcellular localizations of three candidate kinesins were studied. The results clarified the morphological and cellular changes during early cucumber fruit development. This study found that CsKF2–CsKF6 were positively correlated with rapid cell production; CsKF1 and CsKF7 showed a strongly positive correlation with rapid cell expansion. The results also indicated that CsKF1 localized to the plasma membrane of fast-expanding fruit cells, that CsKF2 might play a role in fruit chloroplast division, and that CsKF3 is involved in the function or formation of phragmoplasts in fruit telophase cells. The results strongly suggest that specific fruit-enriched kinesins are specialized in their functions in rapid cell division and expansion during cucumber fruit development.

The role of abscisic acid in regulating cucumber fruit development and ripening and its transcriptional regulation

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), a kind of fruit usually harvested at the immature green stage, belongs to non-climacteric fruit. To investigate the contribution of abscisic acid (ABA) to cucumber fruit development and ripening, variation in ABA level was investigated and a peak in ABA level was found in pulp before fruit get fully ripe. To clarify this point further, exogenous ABA was applied to cucumber fruits at two different development stages. Results showed that ABA application at the turning stage promotes cucumber fruit ripening, while application at the immature green stage had inconspicuous effects. In addition, with the purpose of understanding the transcriptional regulation of ABA, two partial cDNAs of CsNCED1 and CsNCED2 encoding 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED), a key enzyme in ABA biosynthetic pathway; one partial cDNA of CsCYP707A1 for 8'-hydroxylase, a key enzyme in the oxidative catabolism of ABA and two partial cDNAs of CsBG1 and CsBG2 for β-glucosidase (BG) that hydrolyzes ABA glucose ester (ABA-GE) to release active ABA were cloned from cucumber. The DNA and deduced amino acid sequences of these obtained genes respectively showed high similarities to their homologous genes in other plants. Real-time PCR analysis revealed that ABA content may be regulated by its biosynthesis (CsNCEDs), catabolism (CsCYP707A1) and reactivation genes (CsBGs) at the transcriptional level during cucumber fruit development and ripening, in response to ABA application, dehydration and pollination, among which CsNCED1, CsCYP707A1 and CsBG1 were highly expressed in pulp and may play more important roles in regulating ABA metabolism.

The expression profiling of the CsPYL, CsPP2C and CsSnRK2 gene families during fruit development and drought stress in cucumber

The abscisic acid (ABA) signal transduction core components in plants include the ABA receptors (PYR/PYL/RCARs), the group A type 2C protein phosphatases (PP2Cs) and the subclass III SNF1-related protein kinases 2 (SnRK2s). In this study, via homology cloning, three CsPYLs, four CsPP2Cs and two CsSnRK2s partial cDNAs were obtained in cucumber (Cucumis sativus). In silico analysis results indicated that all CsPYL, CsPP2C, and CsSnRK2 genes obtained are homologous to Arabidopsis AtPYL, AtPP2C, and AtSnRK2 genes, respectively. Based on phylogenetic analysis, only CsPP2C2 and CsSnRK2.2 belonged to group A PP2C and subclass III SnRK2, respectively, and may involve in ABA signal transduction. During cucumber fruit development and ripening, CsPYL2 and CsPP2C2 were highly expressed and both reached their peak value at 27 DAF, at which stage the ABA content was also at its highest level, which indicated that the CsPYL2 and CsPP2C2 may involve in transducing ABA signal in fruit and regulating fruit development and ripening. Under drought stress condition in cucumber seedlings, CsPYL1, CsPYL2, CsPP2C2 and CsSnKR2.2 were sensitive and up-regulated in root, stem and leaf; meanwhile, CsPYL3 showed a low sensitivity and were down-regulated in root and stem.

The Expression Profiling of the Lipoxygenase (LOX) Family Genes During Fruit Development, Abiotic Stress and Hormonal Treatments in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

Lipoxygenases (LOXs) are non-haem iron-containing dioxygenases that catalyse oxygenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids and lipids to initiate the formation of a group of biologically active compounds called oxylipins. Plant oxylipins play important and diverse functions in the cells. In the current study, expression analysis during cucumber development using semi-quantitative RT-PCR revealed that 13 of 23 CsLOX genes were detectable, and were tissue specific or preferential accumulation. In total, 12 genes were found to be differentially expressed during fruit development and have different patterns of expression in exocarp, endocarp and pulp at day 5 after anthesis. The expression analysis of these 12 cucumber LOX genes in response to abiotic stresses and plant growth regulator treatments revealed their differential transcript in response to more than one treatment, indicating their diverse functions in abiotic stress and hormone responses. Results suggest that in cucumber the expanded LOX genes may play more diverse roles in life cycle and comprehensive data generated will be helpful in conducting functional genomic studies to understand their precise roles in cucumber fruit development and stress responses.

Spatio-temporal changes in cell division, endoreduplication and expression of cell cycle-related genes in pollinated and plant growth substances-treated ovaries of cucumber

We investigated the temporal and spatial changes in cell division, endoreduplication and expression of cell cycle-related genes in developing cucumber fruits at 0-20 days after anthesis (DAA). Cell division was intense at 0-4 DAA and then decreased until to 8 DAA. Meanwhile, endoreduplication started at 4 DAA and increased gradually to 20 DAA, accompanied by an increase in fruit weight. Cell division was mainly observed in the exocarp, while endoreduplication occurred mostly in the endocarp and pulp. Among the six cell cycle-related genes examined, two mitotic cyclin genes (CycA and CycB) and CDKB had the highest transcript levels within 2 DAA, while transcripts of two CycD3 genes and CDKA peaked at 4 DAA and 20 DAA, respectively. Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), N-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N'-phenylurea (CPPU) and 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) all induced parthenocarpic growth as well as active cell division, and enhanced transcripts of cell cycle-related genes. In comparison, gibberellic acid (GA(3)) had little effect on the induction of parthenocarpy and transcripts of cell cycle-related genes. These results provide evidence for the important roles of cell division and endoreduplication during cucumber fruit development, and suggest the essential roles of cell cycle-related genes and plant growth substances in fruit development.

Changes in carbohydrate levels and their metabolic enzymes in leaves, phloem sap and mesocarp during cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L.) fruit development

Levels of carbohydrates and activities of metabolic enzymes were examined in leaves (source), phloem sap (flow) and mesocarp tissues (sink) in the course of cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L.) fruit development, from 2 days before anthesis to 20 days after anthesis. While total sugar levels increased in all the three sampling organs, starch levels declined in leaves and mesocarp tissues as fruit development progressed. Glucose and fructose were the primary contributors to the soluble sugar pools in mature leaves. Stachyose was found as the most important component of the phloem sap extracts, followed by sucrose and raffinose. However, the primary sugars accumulated in mesocarp tissues were glucose and fructose, not stachyose or sucrose. Activities of sucrose synthesizing enzymes (sucrose phosphate synthase plus sucrose synthase in the synthesizing direction) exceeded that of sucrose degrading enzymes (acid invertase, neutral invertase plus sucrose synthase in the degrading direction) in leaves, which might cause a sucrose pool utilized in raffinose and stachyose biosynthesis. While alkaline a-galactosidase form I activity declined, stachyose synthase activity showed a rapid increase until 12 days after anthesis and only subsequently decreased in leaves. Activities of sucrose degrading enzymes were always much higher than that of sucrose synthesizing enzymes in mesocarp tissues. Thus, sucrose accumulation could not occur in mesocarp tissues. While stachyose synthase activity steadily decreased, alkaline a-galactosidase form I activity showed a moderate increase before decrease in mesocarp tissues. The relationship between levels of soluble sugars and activities of relative enzymes was also discussed.

A role of brassinosteroids in early fruit development in cucumber

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are essential for many biological processes in plants, however, little is known about their roles in early fruit development. To address this, BR levels were manipulated through the application of exogenous BRs (24-epibrassinolide, EBR) or a BR biosynthesis inhibitor (brassinazole, Brz) and their effects on early fruit development, cell division, and expression of cyclin and cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) genes were examined in two cucumber cultivars that differ in parthenocarpic capacity. The application of EBR induced parthenocarpic growth accompanied by active cell division in Jinchun No. 4, a cultivar without parthenocarpic capacity, whereas Brz treatment inhibited fruit set and, subsequently, fruit growth in Jinchun No. 2, a cultivar with natural parthenocarpic capacity, and this inhibitory effect could be rescued by the application of EBR. RT-PCR analysis showed both pollination and EBR induced expression of cell cycle-related genes (CycA, CycB, CycD3;1, CycD3;2, and CDKB) after anthesis. cDNA sequences for CsCycD3;1 and CsCycD3;2 were isolated through PCR amplification. Both CsCycD3;1 and CsCycD3;2 transcripts were up-regulated by EBR treatment and pollination but strongly repressed by Brz treatment. Meanwhile, BR6ox1 and SMT transcripts, two genes involved in BR synthesis, exhibited feedback regulation. These results strongly suggest that BRs play an important role during early fruit development in cucumber.

Genetic linkage map construction and location of QTLs for fruit‐related traits in cucumber

AbstractA 173‐point genetic linkage map of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), consisting of 116 SRAPs, 33 RAPDs, 11 SSRs, 9 SCARs, 3 ISSRs, and 1 STS, was constructed using 130 F2 progeny derived from a narrow cross between line S94 (Northern China open‐field type) and line S06 (greenhouse European type). The seven linkage groups spanned 1016 cM with a mean marker interval of 5.9 cM. Using the F2 population and its F3 derived families, a total of 38 QTLs were detected on five linkage groups with an LOD threshold of 3.0 for nine fruit‐related traits: fruit weight, length, and diameter, fruit flesh thickness, seed‐cavity diameter, fruit‐stalk length, fruit pedicel length, length/diameter and length/stalk ratio. Of the identified QTLs, fsl4.3 for fruit‐stalk length explained the largest portion of phenotypic variation (r2 = ∼30%). Several QTLs were detected in the same linkage region in different generations and different seasons. Additionally, several QTLs for various fruit traits were mapped to the same or neighbouring marker intervals, suggesting they are possible character associations for controlling cucumber fruit development.

Effect of ovular receptivity on seed set and fruit development in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

Seed set and fruit development in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) were studied in relation to female flower receptivity from day — 2 before anthesis to day + 2 after anthesis. The female cucumber flower is protogynous. The pistil was receptive 2 days before anthesis. The iso-electric focusing (IEF) patterns of the stigma/style proteins, were identical from day -5 to day +2. In pollinated flowers in vivo germination and pollen-tube growth in the ovary were affected by pistil age from day -2 to day +2. In addition, differences in sectorial filling in full seeds were observed within the fruits. A negative correlation was observed between the frequency of fertilized ovules in the pedoncular part of the fruit and ovary length at the time of pollination. In the whole fruit, significant differences in the number of full seeds and fruit size at maturity were found, and these were observed to be correlated with the various stages of female flower maturation at pollination. The day -2 and day +2 stages yielded the smallest fruits with few full seeds compared to the day -1, day 0 and day +1 stages, which had the biggest fruits and a large number of full seeds. A strong positive correlation was found between total seed number (including full and empty seeds), fruit length and weight at maturity. All these results suggest that both seed set in the different parts of the fruit and fruit development are controlled by ovular receptivity rather than by stigma/style receptivity.

Promotion of fruit development in cucumber ( Cucumis sativus) by thidiazuron

When receptacles of the second and the third female flowers on the main stem of a cucumber plant had been sprayed with an aqueous solution of 2 ppm thidiazuron (TDZ) or 2 ppm TDZ÷100 ppm GA 3, the mean fresh weight of the fruit formed from the sprayed female flowers increased by 41.1% or 74.3% and by 32.4% or 68.9% in 1989 and 1990 respectively. Spraying the receptacles of female flowers with such a solution once markedly increased the fruit yield of the first harvest and did not reduce the total fruit yield.

キュウリ果実の着果•肥大期における光合成産物の転流•分配に及ぼすベンジル•アデニンの影響

Studies were carried out to clarify the effects of benzyl adenine on translocation and distribution of 14C-assimilates in relation to fruit setting and development in cucumber plants.Fruit setting and early fruit development were accelerated by pollination. Furthermore, parthenocarpic fruit setting was induced by benzyl adenine. Great changes occurred on the RSS (Relative Strength as a Sink) values before and after anthesis.The RSS value was high before anthesis and it decreased rapidly on the day of anthesis. After pollination or treatment by benzyl adenine the RSS increased rapidly again.The changes in auxin content by pollination and treatment by benzyl adenine were almostly similar in pattern to the changes of the RSS. Therefore, it seems that the effect of benzyl adenine is related to the inhibition of decrease of auxin content.14C-benzyl adenine moved to the acropetal area of fruit and accounted for more than 10 per cent of total amount of 14C supplied to fruit within 24h.There were physiological changes in the flower buds before and after anthesis. It is likely that the flower bud acts as a growing point, like a leafy bud, before anthesis. However, from the time of anthesis until fruit setting the flower bud suspends physiological activity and after fruit setting the flower bud probably changes physiological phase and the fruit develops rapidly.

Polygalacturonase Activity and Ethylene Synthesis during Cucumber Fruit Development and Maturation

Polygalacturonase (EC 3.2.1.15) activity in seed cavity tissue from harvested cucumber fruit increased over 20-fold after the fruit had produced a transient burst of ethylene during maturation. This increase was observed in six cucumber cultivars and was present whether polygalacturonase activity was measured at pH 4.6 or 6.2. The seed cavity tissue pH decreased as polygalacturonase activity increased both in ripening fruit and in harvested immature fruit exposed to 10 microliters per liter ethylene in air.

Induction of Parthenocarpic Fruit Development in Cucumber by Growth Regulators1

Abstract The effect of growth regulators indoleacetic acid (IAA), parachlorophenoxy-acetic acid (4-CPA), β-napthoxyacetic acid (β-NOA), gibberellin (GA3 and GA4+7) and benzyladenine (BA) applied directly to flowers at anthesis, caused parthenocarpy in cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.), while (2 chloroethyl)phosphonic acid (ethephon) and abscisic acid (ABA) were ineffective. Only synthetic auxins and BA effectively induced parthenocarpy in treated whole plants. 4-CPA was the most effective treatment for induction of parthenocarpic fruits, as determined by number and shape. Application of GA to the entire plant caused increase in vegetative growth, but fruit development was inhibited even under conditions of natural pollination.

A Mathematical Model to Schedule Cucumber Harvest

ABSTRACT A CUCUMBER fruit development model was developed to assist the grower in making a decision on the date to once-over mechanically harvest pickling cucumbers. Fruit weight and fruit count relationships were estab-lished. Fruit size distribution forecasts can be obtained.

Promotion of Cucumber Fruit Set and Development by Chlorflurenol1

Abstract 2-Chloro-9-hydroxyfluorene-9-carboxylic acid (chlorflurenol)3 at 50 or 100 ppm increased fruit production of a gynoecious cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cv. MSU 713-5) under field conditions of both normal and reduced pollination. A monoecious cultivar, ‘Wisconsin SMR 18’, treated with (2-chloroethyl) phosphonic acid (ethephon) and then chlorflurenol produced over twice as many fruit as the control when pollen was plentiful, and more than 4 ⨯ as many when pollen supply was limited. Ethephon sprays alone increased pistillate flower formation on the monoecious cultivar but did not increase fruit set. Chlorflurenol treatments increased the proportion of fruit in the smaller, more valuable size grades and appear advantageous for mechanically harvested pickling cucumbers.

Effects of Fluoride on Pollen Germination, Pollen Tube Growth, and Fruit Development in Tomato and Cucumber

Tomato and cucumber pollen germination in vitro was significantly inhibited at 10.5 and 2.6 mM NaF, respectively, or higher, in media containing 1.25 mM Ca. Germination was not inhibited provided the Ca was at least chemically equivalent to the F in the media. Long-term, continuous HF fumigations of tomato plants at 7.9 and 13.0 ..mu..g F/m/sup 3/ reduced pollen germination in vitro when the plants were grown with low Ca (1 mM) nutrient solution. No reduction was found at 13.0 ..mu..g F/m/sup 3/ when tomato plants were grown with 4 mM Ca. Regardless of Ca nutrition, HF fumigations of cucumber plants at 10.2 ..mu..g F/m/sup 3/ or less did not inhibit pollen germination. Fluorescent staining of pistils from manually pollinated tomato flowers showed reductions in the number of pollen grains retained on the stigma, pollen germination, and pollen tubes reaching ovules when the maternal parent plants were grown in HF treatments averaging as low as 4.2 ..mu..g F/m/sup 3/. Similar effects were found when pollen parents grown with 1 mM Ca were subjected to 7.9 ..mu..g F/m/sup 3/, but not when pollen parents grown with 5 mM Ca were subjected to 4.4 ..mu..g F/m/sup 3/. Early tomato fruit and seedmore » development were inhibited by treatments similar to those that caused the pollen responses. 11 references, 1 figure, 5 tables.« less