Stages Of Fruit Ripening Research Articles

The influence of lulo (Solanum quitoense Lam) fruit maturity stage on polygalacturonase and pectate lyase secretion by Colletotrichum acutatum

The influence of the lulo fruit maturity stage on the secretion of polygalacturonase (PG) and pectate lyase (PL) enzymes by Colletotrichum acutatum was determined. The study was performed using in vitro assays in the presence of exocarp and cell walls (CW) of the fruit at three different ripening stages (unripe, semi-ripe and ripe). The results showed that PG behaves as a constitutive enzyme and is only induced by semi-ripe CW, while PL is induced with the exocarp of lulo fruits at the three maturation stages, although its activity was highest with semi-ripe fruit. This enzymatic behavior might be related to the quiescent stage of the pathogen in the fruit, as C. acutatum remains quiescent until maturation begins. The profiles of PL induction were different in the presence of the CW and the exocarp inducers, whereas PG levels barely varied, indicating that the process of obtaining the CWs may eliminate a compound that contributes to the induction of PL secretion.

Kiwifruit cultivar ‘Halla gold’ functional component changes during preharvest fruit maturation and postharvest storage

Abstract There is an increasing interest in the use of immature fruit for its health benefits; however, little is known about changes in the molecular composition of functional compounds during the stages of fruit maturation and over their postharvest ripening process. This study investigates the changing content levels of key functional molecules in the golden kiwifruit cultivar harvested between 70 and 160 days after full blooming (DAFB) and stored at 4 °C for 9 weeks. We found that mature fruit contained higher levels of total phenolics, total flavonoids, and vitamin C, while having lower levels of pigments such as lutein, β-carotene, 9’-cis-neoxanthin, and pheophytins. Lutein and β-carotene content was maintained during postharvest storage regardless maturity at harvest, with the notable exception of β-carotene which increased dramatically between 3 and 6 weeks of storage in fruit harvested 160 DAFB. Other pigments tended to decrease during ripening and maturation. Overall these results suggest that less mature kiwifruits are likely to be a better source health-beneficial pigment molecules like lutein and β-carotene.

Expression analysis of NAC genes during the growth and ripening of apples

Plant-specific NAC transcription factors (TFs) play crucial roles in various pathways related to the stress response. However, to date, little information regarding NAC gene regulation during fruit ripening is available for the apple (Malus domestica). Here, we report that 13 out of 182 MdNAC genes were differentially expressed during the stages of fruit growth and ripening. Sequence analysis indicates that these 13 MdNAC genes harbour distinct structures and potentially diverse functions. The expression of both MdNAC1a and MdNAC78 was repressed by ethylene and induced by 1-MCP during storage. MdNAC2, MdNAC26, MdNAC41, MdNAC57, MdNAC80, MdNAC91, MdNAC119 and MdNAC141 were up-regulated by ethylene and their transcription mirrored ethylene production rates during storage. MdNAC1, MdNAC16 and MdNAC32 did not respond to 1-MCP exposure. Additionally, the 13 MdNAC genes identified displayed differential tissue-specific expression patterns. These results suggest that NAC TFs play an important role in the regulation of apple development via both ethylene-dependent and -independent mechanisms.

<b>Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes of <i>Jatropha curcas</i> L. seeds stored at different maturity stages

The objective of the present work was to investigate the antioxidant enzyme activities and the occurrence of lipid peroxidation during storage of J. curcas seeds obtained from fruits at different maturity stages. Seeds extracted from fruits collected at three stages of maturity were used, i.e., yellow, brownish-yellow, and brown (dry fruits). The seeds were subsequently stored for 18 months in Kraft paper bags in a laboratory environment. Initially as well as every three months, the seeds were evaluated for germination and electrical conductivity, and the seed embryos were evaluated for lipid peroxidation; protein content; and superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase enzyme activity at the same time points. In general, the seeds from the three stages of fruit maturity did not differ regarding germination throughout the entire period of storage, although a reduction in viability was observed after nine months of storage. The electrical conductivity increased during storage and was greater for the seeds obtained from brown fruits. There was a reduction in protein content and in enzyme activities in the seed embryo, except for superoxide dismutase. No relationship was observed between reduction in seed viability and lipid peroxidation. Thus, J. curcas seeds with high initial quality can be stored under environmental conditions for up to 9, 15 and 15 months for brown (dry), yellow and brownish-yellow fruits, respectively, without a significant reduction in germination but with a reduction in seed vigour.

Maturidade fisiológica de sementes de pitaya

Pitaya is a fruit that has a high economic and nutritional potential, and these characteristics has picked the interest of the seed sector for high quality production, as the propagation of this culture occurs solely through seeds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physiological, biochemical and health quality of pitaya seeds with different stages of fruit maturation. The experimental design used was completely randomized with four replications, where fruits were collected at 25, 30, 35 and 40 days after anthesis, followed by pulp removal to acquire seeds. Seed quality was evaluated according to: germination, accelerated aging, seedling emergence, speed index and average germination time, seed health, and electrophoretic patterns of heat resistant proteins LEA. The results showed that pitaya seeds reach their full physiological maturity at 40 days after anthesis, the same period during which heat resistant proteins LEA are expressed higher. The presence of fungi in pitaya seeds from fruits of different maturation stages is low.

Physico-Chemical Characterization of Keitt Mango and Cavendish Banana Fruits Produced in Mozambique

Mangoes (Mangifera indica) and bananas (Musa acuminata) are climacteric fruits with a high potential for export due to their exotic aroma and sweet taste. This study aimed to characterize the physical and chemical parameters of Keitt mangoes and Cavendish bananas from different regions of Mozambique. The fruits were collected from Gaza, Manica and Nampula districts of south, central and north parts of Mozambique, respectively. The banana and mango samples were collected in Mid-August 2016 and January 2017, respectively. The fruits collected were at three different maturity stages (green, green-yellowish and yellow). The sample materials were characterised according to their centesimal composition, size, weight, firmness and colour. Analyses of soluble solids and ascorbic acid were, also, performed. The results revealed that the parameters were a good indicator of the maturity stage as well as for multivariate mango and banana applications and consumption. The parameters confirmed that mango fruits with low moisture (green with 83.62%), and fibers (0.44%), high ash (2.05%) crude lipids (0.29%), protein (0.85%) and carbohydrate (13.81%), high total soluble solids (24.60%), and high vitamin C content (14.83 mg/100g) were collected in Nampula with statistic differences (p < 0.05) between region of fruit production in Mozambique and stages of fruit maturity. However, banana fruits with low moisture (73.18%) and fibers (0.27%), high crude proteins (3.44%), ash (0.58%), and crude lipids content (4.92%), high total soluble solids (24.50%) and vitamin C content (2.40 mg/100g) were collected in Manica, where statistic differences (p < 0.05) were reported. This is the first time that Keitt mangoes and Cavendish bananas fruits have been characterized either in relation to the region of production in Mozambique or in relation to the various stages of maturity. This information can be exploited by various actors along the mango and banana value chain.

Breeding system studies in Withania somnifera-an important commercial medicinal plant

Withania somnifera (Solanaceae), is an important medicinal plant species that has therapeutic applications in traditional and modern system of medicines. The plant is valued for its roots due to presence of withanolides and shows extensive phenotypic and chemical variability. The utilization of this variability through conventional breeding requires a clear understanding of its reproductive biology and breeding system. In present study reproductive biology in Withania somnifera has been studied to understand its breeding behaviour. The results revealed that species showed remarkable interpopulation variability especially with regard to its filament, pedicel and style length that has bearing on its mating ability. Increase in filament length affects self pollination although its flowers are amenable for cross pollination initially. The flower is protogynous which is characterised by stigma becoming receptive at bud stage with anthers maturing at full blooming stage. Protogynous flowers coupled with lower position of anthers enable it for cross pollination initially. In case of incomplete xenogamy, autogamy is enabled due to increase in filament length bringing anthers at par with stigma level. The species practices mixed mating with 66% self and 34% cross pollination and this mechanism will be advantageous towards production of recombinant as well as autogamous seeds in W. somnifera. Further, different accessions of this species showed variation w.r.t. bud initiation stage, anthesis, maximum flowering stage, fruit initiation, fruit ripening and crop withering stage etc. However, the chromosomal study revealed a diploid number of 2n=48 in all the studied accessions.

BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS DURING THE MATURATION OF FOUR FRUITS NATIVE TO THE RESTINGA FOREST OF CEARA

ABSTRACT Fruits provide not only essential nutrients for food, but also bioactive compounds that promote health benefits and help reducing the risk of developing non-communicable chronic diseases. In this sense, this work aimed at quantifying bioactive compounds during the maturation of four fruits native to the Restinga forest of Ceara. Myrtle fruits (Eugenia punicifolia (Kunth) DC.) were collected at the Botanical State Park of Ceara, Caucaia-CE, and guajiru (Chrisobalanus icaco L.), manipuça (Mouriri cearensis Huber) and murici-pitanga fruits (Byrsonima gardneriana A. Juss.) at the Botanical Garden of São Gonçalo, São Gonçalo do Amarante-CE. Fruits were collected at different stages (E) and transported to the Laboratory of Plant Ecophysiology, being characterized into five or six maturation stages according to the bark color, then processed and frozen for the following physicochemical and chemical evaluations: ascorbic acid, total chlorophyll, total carotenoids, total anthocyanins and yellow flavonoids. A completely randomized design was used, with five or six treatments, depending on the maturation stages of fruits and four replicates. Murici-pitanga had higher contents of ascorbic acid (ascorbic acid 646.23 mg/100 g E5), total carotenoids (6.13 mg/100 g E5) and total anthocyanins (7.99 mg/100 g E2); and myrtle had higher contents of total chlorophyll (11.05 mg/100 g E1) and yellow flavonoid (69.11 mg/100 g E2). There are positive and significant correlations between chlorophyll and carotenoid (R= 0.99; P &lt;0.01) for manipuça and between anthocyanin and yellow flavonoid (R= 0.97; P &lt;0.05) for murici-pitanga fruits; however, the correlation is negative and significant between ascorbic acid and yellow flavonoids (R= -0.98; P &lt;0.05) for myrtle fruits. It could be concluded that murici-pitanga and myrtle fruits had the highest contents of bioactive compounds with the highest levels, therefore both fruits can be recommended to be commercially exploited by the food, cosmetic and phytomedicine sectors.

ACTIVITY OF PHENOL OF Morinda citrifolia AS NATURAL ANTIBACTERIA TO INHIBIT THE GROWTH OF MASTITIS-ASSOCIATED BACTERIA

Most of dairy farmers less of attention about sanitation after milking. It can trigger a disease, mastitis. Mastitis is one of harmful disease in dairy cow, because it can decrease quality and quantity of milk. The aim of this study was to determine active compounds in the noni fruit extract, to measure the levels of phenolic compounds in different stage of fruit maturity and to know the result of California Mastitis Test (CMT) test between teat’s cow were dipped with noni fruit extract and commercial teat dipping solution containing 1.25% iodine (commercial). The highest level of phenols was presented in ripe noni fruit. Based on statistical analysis using One Way Anova followed by Duncan's test Multiply Range Test (DMRT), there were significant differences (P&lt;0.05) in CMT test between teat’s cow were dipped in noni fruit extract and iodine 1.25% solution. Noni fruit extract solution showed better result than commercial dipping solution containing iodine. The conclusion is noni fruit extract contains natural antibacteria, it can be used to teat dipping solution.

Transcriptome and Metabolome Analyses Provide Insights into the Occurrence of Peel Roughing Disorder on Satsuma Mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc.) Fruit.

Roughing disorder (RD) is a significant quality barrier in citrus fruit, prevalent on easy-peeling mandarins. As RD is not yet well-understood, this study aimed to examine the changes and synergic molecular processes involved in peel RD. Peel with RD was induced by severely defruiting Satsuma mandarin trees. Morphology observations, RNA-sequencing, and targeted and untargeted metabolic analyses were conducted. The results showed that the primary metabolites of sugars, organic acids and amino acids are dramatically changed in RD peel. The RD peel was always characterized by higher magnesium content during development. Comparative transcriptome profiling was performed for CK and RD peels at 30, 80, and 170 days after full bloom (DAFB) which represented fruit at cell division stage, cell enlargement stage and fruit maturity stage, respectively. Physiological and molecular biological evidence suggested that the month after full bloom is a crucial stage for RD initiation. A total of 4,855 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in RD peel, relative to CK peel were detected at cell division stage, about 2 to 4-fold more than other stages had. Among the differentially expressed transcription factors, the bHLH family were affected most by RD, and six bHLH transcription factors functionally involved in GA metabolism were assessed to associate with RD occurrence. Gene set enrichment analysis suggested that RD significantly altered starch and GA metabolism in peel. Higher starch content and hydrolysed chain status were found in RD peel at cell division stage. RD occurrence on the peel was influenced significantly by GA, especially abundant GA before July. These changes may mean a significant alteration in sink strength of RD peel. The findings of this study provide insights into the emergence, development and molecular mechanisms of RD.

Two Paralogous Genes Encoding Auxin Efflux Carrier Differentially Expressed in Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia)

The phytohormone auxin regulates various developmental programs in plants, including cell growth, cell division and cell differentiation. The auxin efflux carriers are essential for the auxin transport. To show an involvement of auxin transporters in the coordination of fruit development in bitter gourd, a juicy fruit, we isolated novel cDNAs (referred as McPIN) encoding putative auxin efflux carriers, including McPIN1, McPIN2 (allele of McPIN1) and McPIN3, from developing fruits of bitter gourd. Both McPIN1 and McPIN3 genes possess six exons and five introns. Hydropathy analysis revealed that both polypeptides have two hydrophobic regions with five transmembrane segments and a predominantly hydrophilic core. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that McPIN1 shared the highest homology to the group of Arabidopsis, cucumber and tomato PIN1, while McPIN3 belonged to another group, including Arabidopsis and tomato PIN3 as well as PIN4. This suggests different roles for McPIN1 and McPIN3 in auxin transport involved in the fruit development of bitter gourd. Maximum mRNA levels for both genes were detected in staminate and pistillate flowers. McPIN1 is expressed in a particular period of early fruit development but McPIN3 continues to be expressed until the last stage of fruit ripening. Moreover, these two genes are auxin-inducible and qualified as early auxin-response genes. Their expression patterns suggest that these two auxin transporter genes play a pivotal role in fruit setting and development.

Genome-wide expression analysis at three fruit ripening stages for tomato genotypes differing in fruit shelf life

Abstract The ripening stage at harvest time determines the tomato fruit quality. After the fruit achieves its maximum size several metabolic changes of typically climacteric fruits are produced. Two cultivated genotypes of Solanum lycopersicum (Caimanta and 804627), with normal and altered fruit ripening, respectively and two accession, LA1385 of S. lycopersicum var. cerasiforme and LA722 of S. pimpinellifolium, with genes that prolong fruit shelf life, were tested to: 1) characterize and make a comparatively analysis for the transcriptome at different fruit ripening stages in genotypes that differ in fruit shelf life by cDNA-AFLP; and 2) provide further insight into the relationship between the extreme phenotypic differences for ripening among the genotypes through changes at transcriptomic level. Fruits at the breaker stage (B) were evaluated for fruit weight, firmness and fruit shelf life. The elapsed days between mature green (MG) and breaker stages Days (MG-B) as well as the elapsed days between B and red ripe (RR) stages Days (B-RR) were recorded. Comparison among ripening stages showed a great polymorphism related to the changes in gene expression. For all genotypes the transition from B to RR stages had higher polymorphism than the transition from MG to B. It was observed a great genetic variability for the phenotypic traits in agreement with the changes of gene expression. Moreover, it was observed that the transcriptome expression profiles in the initial and intermediate stages during ripening (MG and B) are more important to characterize genotypes. The wild species which have long shelf life do not show as drastic changes in gene expression as the cultivar with altered ripening that carrythe nor gene. These results suggest that the expressed or silenced genes could be involved, in some way, in the determination of the phenotypic traits evaluated in this study.

Evolution of Volatile Emission in Rhus coriaria Organs During Different Stages of Growth and Evaluation of the Essential Oil Composition.

Rhus coriaria, also known as Sumac, has been traditionally used in many countries as spice, condiment, dying agent, and medicinal herb. The chemical composition of essential oils (EOs) and the volatile emissions from different organs of this species collected in Sicily (Italy) were analyzed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Monoterpene and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons were the most abundant class in the volatile emissions with β-caryophyllene and α-pinene were the main constituents in the majority of the examined samples. The EO composition was characterized by high amount of monoterpene and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons together with diterpenes. The main compounds in the EO obtained from the leaves and both stages of fruit maturation were cembrene and β-caryophyllene, while α-pinene and tridecanoic acid were the key compounds in the flower EO. All the data were submitted to multivariate statistical analysis showing many differences among the different plant parts and their ontogenetic stages.

Gene expression atlas of fruit ripening and transcriptome assembly from RNA-seq data in octoploid strawberry (Fragaria\u2009\xd7\u2009ananassa)

RNA-seq has been used to perform global expression analysis of the achene and the receptacle at four stages of fruit ripening, and of the roots and leaves of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa). About 967 million reads and 191 Gb of sequence were produced, using Illumina sequencing. Mapping the reads in the related genome of the wild diploid Fragaria vesca revealed differences between the achene and receptacle development program, and reinforced the role played by ethylene in the ripening receptacle. For the strawberry transcriptome assembly, a de novo strategy was followed, generating separate assemblies for each of the ten tissues and stages sampled. The Trinity program was used for these assemblies, resulting in over 1.4 M isoforms. Filtering by a threshold of 0.3 FPKM, and doing Blastx (E-value < 1 e-30) against the UniProt database of plants reduced the number to 472,476 isoforms. Their assembly with the MIRA program (90% homology) resulted in 26,087 contigs. From these, 91.34 percent showed high homology to Fragaria vesca genes and 87.30 percent Fragaria iinumae (BlastN E-value < 1 e-100). Mapping back the reads on the MIRA contigs identified polymorphisms at nucleotide level, using FREEBAYES, as well as estimate their relative abundance in each sample.

Dynamics in the concentrations of health-promoting compounds: lupeol, mangiferin and different phenolic acids during postharvest ripening of mango fruit.

Mango fruit (Mangifera indica L.) is renowned for its pleasant taste and as a rich source of health beneficial compounds. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in concentrations of health-promoting compounds, namely ascorbic acid, carotenoids, antioxidants, lupeol, mangiferin, total phenols and individual phenolic acids, as well as ethylene production and respiration rates during climacteric ripening in 'Kensington Pride' and 'R2E2' mango fruit. The climacteric ethylene and respiration peaks were noted on the third day of the fruit ripening period. The concentrations of total carotenoids in the pulp, total antioxidants in both pulp and peel, and total phenols of the peel, lupeol and mangiferin were significantly elevated, whereas the concentration of ascorbic acid declined during post-climacteric ripening. Gallic, chlorogenic and vanillic acids were identified as the major phenolic acids in both pulp and peel of 'Kensington Pride' and 'R2E2' mangoes. The concentrations of phenolic acids (gallic, chlorogenic, vanillic, ferulic and caffeic acids) also increased during the post-climacteric phase. The concentrations of all phenolic compounds were several-fold higher in the peel than pulp. Mangoes at post-climacteric ripening phase offer the highest concentrations of health-promoting compounds. Peel, at this stage of fruit ripening, could be exploited as a good source for extraction of these compounds. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Field Attraction of Carob Moth to Host Plants and Conspecific Females.

The carob moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller; Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is a devastating pest in high-value crops around the world. An efficient sex pheromone attractant is still missing for the management of this pest, because the major pheromone component is unstable. Host plant volatiles attract herbivore insects and have shown to have good potential to be exploited as alternatives or supplements to sex pheromones. To explore this possibility in carob moth, we assessed the attraction of moths to the volatiles of mature pistachio and different fruit stages of pomegranate, alone and in combination with virgin females, using sticky delta traps in pomegranate orchards of Iran. Traps baited with mature pomegranates, whether uncracked or cracked, infested or uninfested, caught significantly larger numbers of male and both mated and virgin female carob moths than unbaited traps. Traps baited with headspace extract of cracked pomegranate only caught mated females, while mature pistachio only attracted males. Pomegranate flowers, unripe pomegranate, and headspace extract of pistachio did not attract moths. Traps baited with cracked fruit caught more mated females than traps baited with uncracked fruit. Males were attracted similarly to traps baited with cracked-infested pomegranate as to traps baited with virgin females alone. Interestingly, the combination of cracked pomegranate and virgin female enhanced the attraction of virgin females. Together, our results show that volatiles from cracked pomegranates alone or in combination with female sex pheromone have great potential for application in pest management programs of carob moth.

Response of sap flux and evapotranspiration to deficit irrigation of greenhouse pear-jujube trees in semi-arid northwest China

The objective of this study was to investigate the response of sap flux (SF) and evapotranspiration (ET) to deficit irrigation (DI) at different growth stages of greenhouse pear-jujube trees (Zizyphus jujube Mill.). Taking full irrigation (FI) as the control treatment (CK), moderate water deficit (50% of FI) at bud burst to leafing stage (stage I) (T2), flowering to fruit set stage (stage II) (T3), fruit growth stage (stage III) (T4), and fruit maturation stage (stage IV) (T5) were treated on greenhouse 8-year old pear-jujube trees in two growing seasons. Water deficit at different growth stages reduced SF, after the re-watering, SF had significant compensatory effects. Therefore, compared with CK, water deficit treatments (T2–T5) didn’t decrease SF significantly for the whole growing seasons, with maximum decrease of 10.5%. Simultaneously, SF under T2–T5 showed typical diurnal patterns on sunny and cloudy days, and nighttime SF accounted for 23.7%–52.3% of total SF for all the weather conditions. There was significantly positive relationship between SF and reference evapotranspiration, with R2 of 0.349–0.594. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that 97% of SF of pear-jujube can be characterized by relative humidity (RH), solar radiation (Rs), air temperature (Ta), and vapor pressure deficit (VPD), and VPD was the main variable affecting SF for all the treatments (P<0.001). Averaging the two years, ET of pear-jujube were 258–288mm for all the treatments, compared with CK, T2–T5 could decrease ET by 2.3%–10.3%.

Cell wall changes in Actinidia arguta during softening

Abstract Actinidia arguta fruit, differing from conventional kiwifruit A. chinensis ‘Hort16A’ and ‘Hayward’ by size, skin appearance, softening rate and texture, were characterised regarding structural and cell wall changes during softening. Cell wall changes of A. arguta var. arguta ‘Hortgem Tahi’ were examined during softening using histological stains, immunolocalisation and cell wall composition analyses. ‘Hortgem Tahi’ fruit are bite-sized and have a skin that is considered edible by consumers, consisting of a cuticle, a living epidermis and a hypodermis of tightly packed thin-walled cells, containing condensed phenolic material. Beneath is the outer pericarp with large and small parenchyma cells, followed by the inner pericarp with seed-containing locules, and core tissue consisting of small, tightly packed parenchyma cells. Throughout the fruit are large numbers of mucilage-containing cells. At harvest, cell walls stain densely with toluidine blue; as fruit softens, staining is lost in the outer pericarp but retained in the epidermis and hypodermis. At harvest, antibodies directed to cell wall epitopes bind to cell walls with a characteristic labelling pattern, but later as fruit soften these antibodies also label polysaccharides inside the cells. ‘Hortgem Tahi’ softens within five days after harvest. Cell wall composition analyses showed that during the softening process, galactose loss as well as pectin solubilisation started at an earlier firmness stage compared to ‘Hayward’ fruit that take about thirty days to soften. ‘Hortgem Tahi’ shows similar internal structural characteristics and cell wall changes compared with conventional kiwifruit. However, they differ in skin structure, the presence of mucilage filled cells, and the occurrence of pectin labelling within the lumen of cells at the ripe fruit stage which may be responsible for the gelatinous texture of the ripe fruit. The comparatively fast softening rate may be caused by an early reduction of galactose content increasing cell wall porosity that supports pectin solubilisation.

Transcriptional transitions in Alphonso mango (Mangifera indica L.) during fruit development and ripening explain its distinct aroma and shelf life characteristics

Alphonso is known as the “King of mangos” due to its unique flavor, attractive color, low fiber pulp and long shelf life. We analyzed the transcriptome of Alphonso mango through Illumina sequencing from seven stages of fruit development and ripening as well as flower. Total transcriptome data from these stages ranged between 65 and 143 Mb. Importantly, 20,755 unique transcripts were annotated and 4,611 were assigned enzyme commission numbers, which encoded 142 biological pathways. These included ethylene and flavor related secondary metabolite biosynthesis pathways, as well as those involved in metabolism of starch, sucrose, amino acids and fatty acids. Differential regulation (p-value ≤ 0.05) of thousands of transcripts was evident in various stages of fruit development and ripening. Novel transcripts for biosynthesis of mono-terpenes, sesqui-terpenes, di-terpenes, lactones and furanones involved in flavor formation were identified. Large number of transcripts encoding cell wall modifying enzymes was found to be steady in their expression, while few were differentially regulated through these stages. Novel 79 transcripts of inhibitors of cell wall modifying enzymes were simultaneously detected throughout Alphonso fruit development and ripening, suggesting controlled activity of these enzymes involved in fruit softening.

Detection of differentially methylated regions of irradiated fig tree selections

Fig tree (Ficus carica L.) breeding programs using conventional methods, such as directed crosses, to obtain new cultivars, are unworkable in many countries, including Brazil. Consequently, genetic breeding through mutagenesis has emerged as an important line of research that can improve this crop, and be a significant source of information about this species and assist in the implementation of propagation projects and appropriate management. The aim of this study was to verify the existence of epigenetic variability attributable to DNA methylation in irradiated fig selections when compared both to each other and to the main commercial cultivar, “Roxo-de-Valinhos”, which had previously used methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP) and DNA sequencing to detect the position of polymorphic regions, analyzable by bioinformatic tools. The sequencing of DNA, isolated from the differentially methylated sites, makes it possible to observe different patterns of methylation by sequencing the treated DNA with sodium bisulfite in the coding regions of regulatory genes active in the development, and fruit ripening stages. Furthermore, they have been found in the mitochondrial DNA of treatments which regulate the supply of energy in Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) form in plants. Closely related to their development, they justify the different phenotypes found in both fruit and plant growth that have suffered stress due to exposure to gamma radiation. Thus, future studies on gene expression in treatments have emerged as an extremely important strategy for understanding these complex regulatory systems, which may lead to the identification of genes of agricultural interest for the fig tree crop, and allow for manipulation and subsequent propagation of improved crops for commercial purposes.