Late Ripening Fruits Research Articles

Identification of Early Tomato Fruit Ripening Loci by QTL-seq

QTL-seq has been successfully studied in identifying major QTLs, markers, and candidate genes associated with traits that are important for crop improvement. Tomato earliness is an economically important trait and is a major current research focus recently. This paper reports the identification of tomato early ripening fruit locus facilitated by QTL-seq using a novel next-generation sequencing technology. Two DNA pools of phenotypes of F2 offspring from crosses between the Bone ММ (early ripening fruit, P1) and 071-440 (late ripening fruit, P2) cultivars of (Solanum lycopersicum) were bulked for sequencing and alignment analysis. Sequencing results revealed 434 SNP markers on chromosome 11, a candidate QTL at position 52,048,208 bp (named er-fruit) and a candidate gene, Solyc11g071510.1.1. The “er-fruit” as confirmed by the traditional QTL method was related to the early fruit ripening trait in tomato. Additionally, BLAST analysis to known homologies for Solyc11g071510.1.1 gene encodes glycoside hydrolases (GHs). GHs are functionally associated with cell wall degradation, fruit softening and ripening. Thus, GHs may be important in fruit softening, stimulating early fruit ripening in tomato. Our results confirmed that QTL-seq is effective method to identify candidate QTL loci, candidate genes and candidate markers.

Induced mutations in tomato SlExp1 alter cell wall metabolism and delay fruit softening

Fruit ripening and softening are key traits for many fleshy fruit. Since cell walls play a key role in the softening process, expansins have been investigated to control fruit over ripening and deterioration. In tomato, expression of Expansin 1 gene, SlExp1, during fruit ripening was associated with fruit softening. To engineer tomato plants with long shelf life, we screened for mutant plants impaired in SlExp1 function. Characterization of two induced mutations, Slexp1-6_W211S, and Slexp1-7_Q213Stop, showed that SlExp1 loss of function leads to enhanced fruit firmness and delayed fruit ripening. Analysis of cell wall polysaccharide composition of Slexp1-7_Q213Stop mutant pointed out significant differences for uronic acid, neutral sugar and total sugar contents. Hemicelluloses chemistry analysis by endo-β-1,4-d-glucanase hydrolysis and MALDI-TOF spectrometry revealed that xyloglucan structures were affected in the fruit pericarp of Slexp1-7_Q213Stop mutant. Altogether, these results demonstrated that SlExp1 loss of function mutants yield firmer and late ripening fruits through modification of hemicellulose structure. These SlExp1 mutants represent good tools for breeding long shelf life tomato lines with contrasted fruit texture as well as for the understanding of the cell wall polysaccharide assembly dynamics in fleshy fruits.

Chemical Composition and Physical Characteristics of Fruits of Two Cultivars of Blue Honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) in Relation to their Degree of Maturity and Harvest Date

The aim of study was to compare yield, fruit quality, chemical composition and fruits colour of berries of two blue honeysuckle(Lonicera caerulea L.) cultivars of Polish bred ‘Wojtek’ and ‘Brązowa’ collected at the beginning and at the end of harvest season,respectively. On average, ‘Wojtek’ yielded 1565 g per bush, whereas ‘Brązowa’ 1941 g. During the fruit ripening process, considerablechanges were found in the fruit colour. Fruits of both cultivars became darker and their colour changed from green and yellow to redand blue. With the changes in fruit colour, considerable changes in firmness also occurred. Fruit ripening reduced fruit firmness andpuncture resistance. For both genotypes, the berries of late harvest were bigger and richer in soluble solids and total polyphenol, however,they showed decreased firmness, lower acidity, and L-ascorbic acid content. Nevertheless the time of harvest, ‘Wojtek’ berries surpassed‘Brązowa’ fruit regarding soluble solids, titratable acidity and L-ascorbic acid content (for late-crop berries of both cultivars 14.1>12.6%,3.4>2.7 g citric acid 100 g1, and 76>56 mg 100 mL-1. Further, ‘Wojtek’ berries showed higher total polyphenol content (149.30 and183.66 mg∙100 g-1, for early and late ripening fruit, respectively) compared to that of ‘Brązowa’ (125.51 and 175.67 mg 100 g-1). Amongphenolics, anthocyanins made the substantial group ranging from 94.47 mg 100 g-1 (‘Brązowa’ berries of early harvest) to 141.96 mg 100g-1 (late ‘Wojtek’ fruit).

Yield and Chemical Composition of Blue Honeysuckle Fruit Depending on Ripening Time

The purpose of three-year observation was to compare yield, fruit quality and chemical composition of berries of two blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) cultivars of Polish bred 'Wojtek' and 'Br ązowa' collected at the beginning and at the end of harvest season. On average, 'Wojtek' cv. yielded 940 g per bush, whereas, 'Br ązowa' 895 g per bush. Nevertheless the time of harvest, 'Wojtek' berries surpassed 'Br ązowa' fruit regarding soluble solids, titratable ac idity and L- ascorbic acid content (for late-crop berries of bot h cultivars 13.2 > 11.5%, 2.91 > 2.82 g citric acid 100 g 1 , and 61 > 48 mg 100 g- 1 fruit juice, respectively). Further, 'Wojtek' berr ies showed higher total polyphenol content (174.95 and 223.05 mg 100 g 1 , for early and late ripening fruit, respectively) compared to that of 'Br ązowa' (144.84 and 239.48 mg 100 g 1 ). Among phenolics, anthocyanins made the substantial group ranging from 106.29 mg 100 g -1 ('Br ązowa' berries of early harvest) to 185.15 mg 100 g -1 (late Wojtek' fruit)'. For both cultivars cyanidin -3-glucoside was found a predominant anthocyanin. The decreasing order of other anthocya nins for 'Br ązowa' was cyanidin-3,5-diglucoside > peonidin-3-glucoside > cyanidin-3-rutinoside, where as, for 'Wojtek' cyanidin-3-rutinoside > cyanidin- 3,5-diglucoside > peonidin-3-glucoside. Regarding hydroxycinnamic acids, both genotypes showed the same decreasing order: chlorogenic acid > 3,5-d icaffeoylquinic acid > neochlorogenic acid. Quercetin-3-rutinoside and quercetin-3-glucoside we re main flavonols identified in both cultivars. For both genotypes, the berries of late harvest were bi gger and richer in soluble solids and total polyphenol, however, they showed decreased firmness, lower acidity, and L-ascorbic acid content.

Collection and Prilminary Evaluation of Grapevine Cultivars of Qazvin Province

The present research was carried out to collect and assess grape cultivars from different aspects such as cold tolerance, fruit quality, cluster marketability, cluster density, berry quality and size, and introduce the best cultivars of Qazvin province. During 2000-2002, superior and healthy genotypes were identified, and 5 plants from each cultivar or genotype were labeled in different orchards. Finally, 19 cultivars with local names of Mesghali, Mollaei, Fakhri, Shahani Qazvin, Yaghouti, Asgari, Shast-e-Arous, Shani Gerd (Shahani Siah), Yazdandaei, Kareroye Sefid, Kareroye Ghermez, Siah Qazvin, Mishpestan, Bidaneh Sefid, Talaei, Shahroodi, Bidaneh Ghermez, Shani Sefid and Rishbaba were identified. During 2001-2002, different characteristics and phonological stages were recorded on the labeled stock plants using grape descriptors. In March 2001, 20 cuttings were prepared from the stock plants, and cultured in nursery for rooting. Then, 9 plants from each genotype were transplanted to the collection gardon at the Takistan Grape Research Station for further evaluations in the second phase of the project. In the first phase, genotypes showed wide variation for the measured characteristics, so that, among them genotypes of early ripening to late ripening, seedless and seeded, low to high yield, very small to large fruit, early to late flowering, low to high sugar content, different vegetative characteristics, weak to power vigor etc. were observed. Cultivars Fakhri, Shast-e-Arous and Mishpestan had very large berries Yaghouti, Asgari, Bidaneh Sefid and Bidaneh Ghermez contained imperfect seed Shast-e-Arous and Shahroodi had very large clusters Kareroye Sefid and Kareroye Ghermez contained female flower with reflex stamens Shahani, Yaghouti, Yazdandaei and Shani Gerd had very early ripening fruit Siah Qazvin had late ripening fruit Shast-e-Arous and Shahroodi had Good storage ability Fakhri, Asgari, Shast-e-Arous, Shani Gerd, Shahroodi and Bidaneh Sefid had high Brix.

THE INTERACTION BETWEEN JASMONATES AND ABSCISIC ACID DURING RIPENING OF APPLE FRUIT

The interaction between jasmonates [jasmonic acid (JA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA)] and abscisic acid (ABA) was investigated in various ripening stages of 'Orin' apple fruit (Malus pumila Mill.). The effect of exogenous MeJA or ABA on 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) level was also examined. MeJA treatment significantly decreased ACC concentrations until 15 days after treatment (DAT) in the middle-ripening stage, while it had no effect in the late-ripening fruit before 15 DAT. These results suggest that jasmonates may have an effective influence in the first half of the ripening process. MeJA treatment increased ABA concentrations at the early and middle-ripening stage, but it did not influence or decrease ABA levels in the late-ripening stage. This implies that the effect may differ with the fruit ripening stage. Therefore, jasmonates may be used to regulate fruit ripening. In contrast, ABA treatment did not influence ACC, JA, or MeJA levels regardless of fruit developmental stage. Thus, ABA may have no direct effect on those substances in the ripening processes of 'Orin' apple fruit.

Transient increase in locular pressure and occlusion of endocarpic apertures in ripening tomato fruit

Summary Locular pressure was monitored during ripening of tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) fruit and the anatomy of the endocarp surface examined using scanning electron microscopy. The manometric pressure of the locule tissue increased from 0 in mature-green fruit to 10 to 50 Pa at the turning or pink stages, and then subsided in ripe fruit. Nonclimacteric fruit containing the ripening inhibitor ( rin ) mutation showed a similar pattern of internal pressure accumulation during senescence. Build-up of locular tissue pressure occurred in fruit ripening, on or off the plant, as well as in fruit with different susceptibility to cuticle cracking. Apertures ranging from 18-31 μm in width and 33-41 μm in length, with densities ranging from 6.7 to 47.9 apertures · mm −2 were observed in the endocarp of mature-green fruit. These apertures were progressively occluded during early ripening and were absent in late ripening fruit. Aperture occlusion might result in reduced gas exchange between the locule and external fruit atmosphere, resulting in modification of the locular gas composition.

Seed content and fruit characteristics in cactus pear ( Opuntia ficus-indica Mill.)

A positive correlation between seed content (number and weight) and fruit weight has been determined for summer and late fruits of the two major Italian cultivars of Opuntia ficus-indica, ‘Gialla’ and ‘Rossa’. In late ripening fruits, the number of aborted seeds was not related to fruit and core weight. The bigger size of the late fruits is related to a higher seed number.

Phenological variation in fruit characteristics in vertebrate-dispersed plants.

We investigated inter-specific variation in fruit characteristics - fruit size, seed number per fruit, seed weight, nutritional content, fruit persistence, and fruit synchronization - in relation to flowering and fruiting phenology in 34 species of fleshy fruited plants. Except for aspects of fruit synchrony and persistence, the results in general were inconsistent with previous suggestions about adaptive variation in phenologically related fruit traits. The main results were as follows: (1) Late flowering, late fruiting, lengthy development time from flower to fruit, and highly persistent fruits constitute a complex of correlated characteristics among the species. (2) Synchronization of fruiting within individuals increased from early ripening fruits to late ripening fruits. Fruiting synchrony was more pronounced in species with a small crop size than in species with a large fruit crop, whereas synchrony was not significantly related to flowering synchronization, nor to life form. (3) Nitrogen and carbohydrate content of fruit pulp did not vary in relation to phenology, whereas lipid content decreased from early to late ripening fruits. (4) No seasonal trends were found for variation in seed size or seed number per fruit. (5) Interactions with flowering phenology and developmental constraints are important in phenological fruiting patterns. Temporal variation in start of fruiting was partly (36%) explained by variation in flowering time. Seed weight variation explained 17% of variation in development time from flower to fruit. (6) Despite constraints from flowering and seed development, some adaptive adjustment in fruiting phenology is likely to be allowed for among the investigated species. Such an adaptive variation in fruiting phenology was suggested by intra-generic comparisons of Prunus and Vaccinium species.

A Study of Two Black Currant Chimaeras

Detailed studies of two black currant varieties, Daniels’ September and Laleham Beauty, failed to show any morphological differences between them, except slight differences in time of flowering and bush vigour. Both varieties are infected with a virus complex causing characteristic leaf mosaic and both behave as periclinal chimaeras, or bud sports, producing distinct early- and late-ripening fruit from morphologically different inflorescences. Propagation by single-bud cuttings and other methods failed to fix either type but showed the late type to be less variable than the early type.