Simultaneous down-regulation of DORMANCY-ASSOCIATED MADS-box6 and SOC1 during dormancy release in Japanese apricot (Prunus mume) flower buds

In temperate deciduous fruit crops such as Prunus spp., bud endodormancy is an important physiological phase affecting the timing of blooming and subsequent fruit development. Japanese apricot (Prunus mume) bears unmixed flower buds, separate from vegetative buds, that bloom slightly more than a month before vegetative bud burst. Seasonal expression of Prunus mume DORMANCY ASSOCIATED MADS-box genes (PmDAMs) has previously been analyzed only in vegetative buds, with an association between these genes and flower bud endodormancy release not yet confirmed. In this study, we performed a seasonal expression analysis of PmDAM1–6 genes in flower buds of two Japanese apricot genotypes – namely, high-chill and low-chill cultivars. The analysis revealed that PmDAM3, PmDAM5, and PmDAM6 expressions are closely associated with dormancy release in both flower and vegetative buds. In addition, a yeast two-hybrid screening demonstrated that PmDAM6 can interact in yeast with the homolog of Arabidopsis SOC1 (PmSOC1). Synchronized expression patterns were detected in PmDAM6 and PmSOC1 during dormancy release in flower buds of the two genotypes. Taken together, these results suggest that the dimer of PmDAM6 and PmSOC1 may play a role in the regulation of dormancy transition and blooming time in Japanese apricot flower buds.     

梨两个休眠相关MADS-box 基因特征及在其休眠过程中的表达分析

 PpMADS1 和PpMADS2 是从‘酥梨’（Pyrus pyrifolia white pear group‘Suli’）休眠芽转录组 文库筛选的两个与休眠相关的MADS-box 基因序列。为了解序列的特征,对其进行了相关生物信息学分 析,并以‘翠冠’和‘圆黄’梨为试材,用实时定量PCR 技术分析其花芽休眠不同阶段的表达变化。结 果表明：两个基因都具有MADS-box 家族的特征序列MIKC-基序,PpMADS1 和PpMADS2 分别与日本梨 （P. pyrifolia‘Kosui’）休眠相关的两个MADS-box 基因PpMADS13-1 和PpMADS13-2 聚在一起,且单独 聚为一支,与李属植物休眠相关的MADS-box 基因关系最近。在两个品种的休眠过程中,PpMADS1 和 PpMADS2 的表达呈现相似的变化趋势,都有一个表达高峰,但‘翠冠’梨PpMADS1 和PpMADS2 的表 达高峰均出现在11 月15 日,而‘圆黄’梨PpMADS1 的表达高峰延后到12 月30 日,PpMADS2 的表达 高峰出现在12 月15 日。两个品种PpMADS1 和PpMADS2 的表达高峰都出现在内休眠解除之前,随内休 眠解除其表达量下调,在生态休眠阶段表达量维持在较低的水平。据此推测PpMADS1 和PpMADS2 的表 达对梨芽内休眠的解除具有调控作用     

The influence of fruiting on the bud sprouting and flower induction responses to chilling in Citrus

Summary

The effect of chilling temperatures on bud sprouting and flower formation was compared on fruiting and non-fruiting ‘Owari’ satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc) trees. On non-fruiting trees, bud dormancy was weak, and a significant proportion of buds were able to sprout at high temperatures without being chilled. Separate effects of low temperatures on bud sprouting and flower induction were demonstrated. On fruiting trees these two effects of low temperatures were also demonstrated on summer-flush buds, but not on older (spring-flush) buds. The spring-flush buds from fruiting trees scarcely sprouted without being chilled. These buds required a longer chilling period for dormancy release than for flower induction, and it was not possible to separate the effect of low temperature on flower induction from the effect on dormancy release. The presence of fruit reduced flower formation by reducing bud sprouting. Furthermore, fruit had a direct inhibitive effect on vernalization which resulted in increased formation of vegetative shoots. The effect of fruit and low temperature on flowering was unrelated to carbohydrate accumulation in the leaves or the roots.     

剥鳞和化学药剂处理对甜樱桃花芽休眠及酚类物质的影响

  以7年生甜樱桃‘红灯’和‘早红宝石’为试材, 分析了自然休眠期间剥鳞和化学药剂处理对酚类物质含量及对休眠解除的影响。结果发现, 休眠花芽中的酚类物质主要分布于鳞片中, 剥鳞后, 花芽中酚类物质含量锐减。自然休眠的不同时期剥鳞对打破休眠的效果不同, 前期效果较为明显, 中期处于休眠的最深时期, 剥鳞不能打破休眠, 后期剥鳞也能打破休眠促进萌发。不同化学药剂在休眠的不同时期对酚类物质含量的影响不同: 自然休眠前期, KNO₃ 和硫脲减缓了酚类物质的积累速度, 相反H₂O₂ 加速了酚类物质的积累; 中期上述3种化学药剂对酚类物质含量的影响与早期相似; 后期KNO₃ 处理降低了酚类物质含量, 硫脲使酚类物质含量略有增加, 而H₂O₂ 使之显著增加。在打破休眠方面, KNO₃ 可提前2～3 d打破休眠, 硫脲没有明显效果, H₂O₂ 反而抑制休眠的解除。     

昆明地区盆栽苹果诱导二次开花试验研究

盆栽苹果二次开花能提高观赏价值,延长观赏期,从而促进苹果盆景产业的发展.本试验显微观察了苹果花芽的形态分化进程,并通过全株脱叶和喷施单氰胺溶液对昆明地区不同品种的盆栽苹果进行了二次开花试验.结果表明:8月中旬,嘎拉、富士、红色之爱的花芽分化分别处于萼片形成期、花蕾分化期和花瓣形成期,神砂和皮诺娃则处于雄蕊形成期;10月...     

化学脱叶对桃自然休眠的调控效应

以两年生曙光油桃为试材,研究不同时期不同化学物质的脱叶效果和打破休眠的效应,结果表明:8%NH4NO3的脱叶效果最好,但对树体有严重药害,综合考虑以8%尿素为优选脱叶试剂;化学脱叶使萌芽提早6~8d,但仅使花期提前2~4d日对叶芽的作用效果显著;化学脱叶明显降低了花芽碳水化合物含量、自然坐果率和花粉生活力,使花期延长,但对完全花比例无显著影响。     

Effects of shading and thidiazuron + oil treatment on dormancy breaking,blooming and fruit set in apricot in a warm-winter climate

Overcoming dormancy represents one of the major limitations to fruit tree production in warm areas. High temperatures during the chilling period have a negative effect on breaking of dormancy. Shading of trees reduces the incidence of radiation and the temperature. Previous works on shading did not take into account the stage of dormancy. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of shading during different periods of endodormancy, in an area having relatively warm winters, and the effects of a treatment of thidiazuron ([TDZ] N-phenyl-N-1,2,3-thiodiazol-5-il-urea) and winter oil, on apricot blooming, fruit set and ripening. The study was carried out during three years which showed marked differences regarding chilling accumulation. Autumn shading did not affect blooming or harvesting. Regarding harvest date, 2–3 days of precocity were achieved by shading during endodormancy, relative to the control. The TDZ + oil treatment increased blooming percentage, made blooming more uniform and brought forward the blooming (by 7–14 days) and ripening (3–8 days) dates. However, pistil abortion percentage was strongly increased by using TDZ and winter oil when there was low chilling accumulation, which led to reduce fruit set percentage. Shading during late endodormancy produced 5 days precocity for the harvest date in the year with lower chill accumulation. Shading of trees during endodormancy and TDZ + oil treatment could be suitable for increasing precocity in warm-winter climates. Significant year-to-year variation has been shown for blooming, pistil abortion, fruit set and fruit/bud percentages. Correlations among these variables are also discussed. Under conditions of marginal chill accumulation, the distribution of chilling during autumn and winter had an important role in the overcoming of dormancy, blooming and fruit set.     

Potential of ethephon,NAA, NAD and urea for thinning pistachio fruitlets

Alternate bearing, the occurrence of high yield ‘on’ year followed by low yield ‘off’ year, is striking in pistachio (Pistacia vera L.). Floral buds of pistachio are formed a year before bloom, but abscise during the years with heavy crop (‘on’ year). Abscission of floral buds is due to competition between growing seeds on 1-year-old shoots and developing buds on current season growth. We studied the effects of chemical fruit thinning on alternate bearing and nut characteristics in a commercial orchard of ‘Owhadi’ pistachio cultivar during 2003–2004 in Rafsanjan, Iran. In both years, ethephon (100 and 200 mg l⁻¹), naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) (125 and 250 mg l⁻¹) and urea (2.5 and 5%) were applied to the branch units of each individual ‘on’-year trees. The results showed that ethephon at both concentrations significantly increased fruit thinning and floral bud retention for the subsequent year. Other treatments also increased fruit thinning and floral bud retention but were inferior to ethephon.     

Influence of three contrasted climatic conditions on endodormant vegetative and floral peach buds: analyses of their intrinsic growth capacity and their potential sink strength compared with adjacent tissues

Three treatments with various temperature-photoperiod combinations (LDW: long-day warm; SDW: short-day warm; SDC: short-day cold) were applied to endodormant vegetative and floral peach buds. In order to analyze the effect of these factors on their dormancy state, the following complementary methods were used: (1) for vegetative buds, the ‘single-node cutting' test that measures the growth capacity of the buds connected to the shoot and integrates endo- and short-distance paradormancy; (2) for floral buds, growth rate of the primordia that integrates endo- and all paradormancy. For both kinds of buds: (3) the ‘nucleotides' test that reveals the intrinsic growth capacity of the isolated bud, i.e. endodormancy, by measuring the potential of converting adenosine to non-adenylic nucleotides; (4) the intracellular pH measurement of primordia and adjacent tissues (cushion and shoot) which is supposed to reflect their relative sink strength for nutrients and the competition between them. This is a possible element of short-distance paradormancy.

Temperature, and not photoperiod, strongly determined the evolution of dormancy in vegetative and floral buds. Exposure to temperatures >20°C, prevented the buds recovering any intrinsic growth capacity, but they did it with notable rapidity under 10–18°C temperature regime (SDC). After one month, under all treatments, consistent with the poor chilling effect (nil under LDW and SDW, one third of the normal requirement of chilling units computed with the ‘dynamic' model under SDC), a residual inhibition of the vegetative bud growth was shown to exist at the cutting level. It must be hypothesized as strong short-distance paradormancy. In the floral buds, growth of the primordia started shortly after exposure to SDC conditions. This is possible provided it is assumed that only very weak residual short-distance paradormancy, if any, remained. Intracellular pH values of the studied tissues were influenced by temperature and photoperiod, but the corresponding gradients of the potential sink strength did not fit well with the paradormancy patterns that had been assumed for the vegetative and floral buds, especially under SDC treatment.     

Effect of artificial chilling on the depth of endodormancy and vegetative and flower budbreak of peach and nectarine cultivars using excised shoots

Stem cuttings were obtained from 12 peach and nectarine cultivars during leaf fall, placed in plastic bags at 3.0 ± 0.1 °C to simulate 0–800 h of chilling and forced to budbreak at 20.0 ± 1.0 °C for a period of 6 weeks. Some cultivars showed high blooming and leafing without exposure to chilling; chilling enhances leafing and blooming but the percentage increment was higher in leaf buds. In general, maximum budbreak was reached with less chilling accumulation (<100–200 h) in flower buds compared with leaf buds; excessive chilling caused a reduction of the percentage budbreak in flower but not in leaf buds. Additionally, chilling modified the proportion of blooming that occurred before leafing. In non-chilled shoots, blooming occurred earlier than leafing, except in cv. ‘San Pedro 16–33’ but the proportion of blooming before leafing decreased significantly with chilling in most cases. By studying the mean time to budbreak, we conclude that the flower bud generally has a lower intensity of rest; the intensity of rest declines at a slower rate in flower than in leaf buds with chilling; flower buds had greater heat requirements than leaf buds when the chilling requirement had been covered, so that each peach cultivar had a point of critical chilling accumulation below which blooming tended to occur earlier, and above which leafing tends to occur first. Flower and leaf buds had different depths of endodormancy but similar chilling requirements in the majority of peach and nectarine cultivars studied. Finally, different varieties with similar chilling requirements showed different responses to chilling. Therefore, the cutting test measuring the response of vegetative and floral buds provides considerable information on the characterisation of the variety, compared with the sole and traditional data of chilling requirements.     

温度对甜樱桃花芽酚类物质含量和相关酶活性及休眠的影响

以7年生甜樱桃红灯(PrunusaviumL.cv.Hongdeng)带有花芽的离体枝条为试材,研究了不同温度对红灯花芽酚类物质含量、相关酶活性及萌芽率的影响。结果表明,不同温度处理对酚类物质含量影响效果不同,自然休眠前期低温(5℃)减缓了酚类物质的积累,中期提前达到其高峰并进入下降阶段,后期加速其降低;高温(20℃)则效果相反,变温(5℃/20℃)的效果不明显。自然休眠的不同时期,不同的温度处理对PAL和PPO活性的影响效果也不相同,低温(5℃)在休眠前期抑制PAL活性的增长而提高了PPO活性,中期使PAL活性迅速降低的同时却加速了PPO活性的升高;后期降低了PAL活性,提高了PPO活性。高温(20℃)的作用效果与低温(5℃)相反。变温(5℃/20℃)对PAL和PPO活性的影响效果不明显。低温(5℃)在自然休眠的3个阶段都能打破休眠促进萌发;高温(20℃)抑制了花芽的萌发;变温(5℃/20℃)对花芽的萌发影响不大。     

梨花芽休眠相关miRNA的鉴定和差异表达分析

为了探究梨花芽休眠进程中miRNA的表达模式和靶基因,利用Solexa测序技术、生物信息学分析和实时荧光定量PCR（qPCR）技术,对内休眠、内休眠解除和生态休眠解除3个时期梨花芽的miRNA进行高通量测序、筛选和鉴定。结果表明,内休眠、内休眠解除和生态休眠解除时期3个样本文库中分别有12 276 226、10 135 952、11 453 981条Unique序列。miRNA主要分布在21 ~ 24 nt之间,其中长度为24 nt的数量最多。共检测到151个已知的miRNA,属于39个不同的家族,并利用生物信息学软件预测到了209个新的miRNAs。比较分析从内休眠进入到生态休眠解除的整个休眠转换时期差异表达的miRNA,筛选出8个miRNA（ahy-miR156b-5p、cpa-miR319、aly-miR172c-3p、aau-miR396、mdm-miR858、aly-miR171b-3p、bdi-miR160f和hbr-miR166a）,其靶基因主要参与转录调控、信号传导等过程。利用qPCR验证了8个miRNA及其8个靶基因的表达。     

几种落叶果树H2O2含量变化与自然休眠关系的研究

 以设施栽培中常见的几种核果类果树品种和两个葡萄品种为试材, 分析了芽休眠期间 H₂O₂含量变化动态, 并探讨了温度、生长调节剂及化学破眠物质对H₂O₂含量影响的效应。结果表明: 休眠期间,不同树种( 品种) 芽内 H₂O₂含量存在差异, 基本趋势是晚熟品种高于早熟品种, 花芽高于叶芽, 但葡萄品种相反, 早熟的‘京秀’高于晚熟的‘巨峰’; 休眠期芽内 H₂O₂含量基本呈稳步上升后急剧下降的趋势,不同品种急剧下降的时间略有差别, 且与自然休眠解除的时间相吻合。低温(5 ℃) 处理显著增加了芽中 H₂O₂含量, 中温(10 ℃) 使 H₂O₂含量略有增加, 而高温(20 ℃) 却导致 H₂O₂含量降低。休眠前期50 mg.L^-1 ABA 处理显著提高了芽中H₂O₂含量, 而100 mg.L^-1的GA₃和6-BA 处理有减少 H₂O₂含量的趋势, 但二者差异不明显。热带地区常用的化学破眠物质对芽 H₂O₂的影响因树种( 品种) 、使用时期不同而异, 硫脲、KNO₃前期使用对核果类果树影响明显, CaCN₂对核果类无明显效应, 但对葡萄品种作用显著。果树芽 H₂O₂含量的动态变化表明, H₂O₂可能是低温解除自然休眠的原因。     

High temperatures and time to budbreak in low chill apricot ‘Palsteyn’. Towards a better understanding of chill and heat requirements fulfilment

The efficiency of different temperature cycles in inducing budburst of one-year-old shoots of the apricot cultivar ‘Palsteyn’ from dormancy was evaluated. Three replications of shoots were collected during two consecutive years from adult trees, following the accumulation of different amounts of chilling in the field. Thereafter, shoots were exposed to different temperature cycles in growth chambers, for 60 days. The temperature treatments included a continuous temperature of 5 °C; daily temperature cycles of 19/5 h at 5/15 °C, at 5/20 °C, and at 5/25 °C; and the same temperature cycles for the remainder of the 60-day period, after pretreatment at 5 °C for 30 or 45 days. After the temperature treatments, shoots were forced at 25 °C until budburst. The mean time to budburst (MTB) (in days) of lateral vegetative, terminal vegetative and reproductive buds was evaluated. The efficiency of the different treatments was greatly influenced by the date on which shoots were cut. High temperatures had a more positive effect on the reduction of MTB when chilling accumulation had occurred in the field instead of the growth chamber. After partial chilling accumulation in the field, high temperatures (25 °C) combined with low temperatures are more efficient than cycles of moderate temperatures (15 or 20 °C) to induce an earlier budburst. In view of these results, a parallel accumulation of both chilling and heat requirements after partial chilling accumulation is suggested. The application of these results could assist in the development of more accurate models for the prediction of the overcoming of dormancy and blooming.     

赤霉素和脱落酸与桃芽自然休眠诱导

以2年生且生长健壮的低需冷量(需冷量极低,108～122c·u)春捷/青州冬雪蜜桃[Prunuspersica(L.)Batsch.为试材,共设置短日照、短日照+GA3、自然条件+ABA和自然条件(对照)4种处理,研究脱落酸和赤霉素在桃芽自然休眠诱导中的作用。结果表明,ABA和GA3均参与桃芽自然休眠诱导,调节自然休眠的启动,但其对休眠诱导的调节作用是通过2者的平衡变化实现的,而不是ABA和GA3各自的单独作用。而且这种平衡变化存在一个临界阈值,GA3/ABA比值高于这个临界阈值,则不诱导桃植株进入休眠,反之则诱导桃植株进入休眠。     

Improved fruit retention,yield and fruit quality in mango with exogenous application of polyamines

Aqueous solutions (0, 0.01, 0.1, 1 mM) of PAs (putrescine, spermine, spermidine) containing a surfactant ‘Tween 20’ were sprayed onto panicles of mango (Mangifera indica L. cv. Kensington Pride) at final fruit set (FFS) stage (when all flowers abscised but remain attached to the panicle) during 1999–2001 to investigate their effects on fruit retention, yield, size, and fruit quality. The optimum time of PA application for improving final fruit retention and fruit yield was determined by spraying different concentrations (0, 0.01, 0.1, 1 mM) of spermine (SPM) containing a surfactant ‘Tween 20’ at four phenological stages including flower bud differentiation (FBD), 5–8 cm long grown panicles (GP), full bloom (FB) and at initial fruit set (IFS) stage (when 2/3rd of the flowers were abscised but attached to the panicle) during 2000. Exogenous application of PAs at FFS stage did not significantly increase fruit retention. However, compared to control (0.79 and 2.3% fruit retention), PAs treatments resulted in comparatively higher mean fruit retention (1.53 and 2.92%) during 1999–2000 and 2000–2001, respectively. Among three PAs tested, SPM was more effective in increasing mean final fruit retention. Fruit size was not significantly affected by any PA treatment. Among the four application times, SPM (0.01 mM) spray at FB stage resulted in significantly (P ≤ 0.05) greater fruit retention (4.99%) compared with control (2.1%). However, fruit yield was comparatively higher with SPM (0.01 mM) application at IFS stage or 5–8 cm GP stage compared to the control. Overall FB application was found as the optimum time of application. Application of PAs at FFS stage retarded fruit skin colour development compared to the control. Sugars and total soluble solids (TSS) were generally reduced in PA-treated fruit. Fruit acidity was increased (16.7%) with SPM, whereas it was 11% with PUT treatment as compared to the control. Total carotenoids in pulp were generally improved (49%) with PA treatments, compared to the control. Ascorbic acid concentrations were significantly reduced with spermidine (SPD) (24%) and PUT (20%) treatments, whereas higher concentrations of SPM (1 mM) tended to increase it (12.7%) compared to the control. In conclusion, application of SPM (0.01 mM) at FB stage resulted in the highest fruit retention, whereas SPM (0.01) spray at GP or IFS stage resulted in higher fruit yield. PUT application at FFS stage significantly improved fruit quality by increasing total carotenoid, while reducing acid content of ripe fruit.     

Effect of Hydrogen Cyanamide on Vegetative Growth,Yield, and Fruit Quality of Fig cv. Zidi in a Warm Production Area

The fig tree (Ficus carica L.) is widely cultivated in the Mediterranean region under warm climates. Fig yield is governed by the previous crop load and is strongly dependent on shoot length. Special cultural practices are required to stimulate new vegetative growth that will ensure regular and high productivity. The present study focused on the use of the rest breaking agent hydrogen cyanamide (HC) as Dormex to enhance vegetative growth, which influences the yield. A field trial was held in northern Tunisia (36° 49′ N; 9° 48′ E) on mature fig trees cv. Zidi. In reference to untreated trees as control, two hydrogen cyanamide treatments at 1% and 1.5% HC were considered. Bud break rate, vegetative growth, starch content of shoots, yield, and fruit characteristics were assessed. Results indicated that 1.5% HC significantly increased shoot length, fruit number per shoot, and yield. It advanced bud break by 10 days and fruit ripening by 7 days compared to the control. However, leaf number, leaf area, and starch content seem to be unaffected by hydrogen cyanamide treatments. Regarding fruit quality, a 1.5% HC dose significantly increased dry matter content, while fruit diameter and total soluble solids remain unaffected. In conclusion, hydrogen cyanamide could be used under warm conditions to improve vegetative growth of fig trees cv. Zidi and consequently fig productivity. Application of 1.5% HC 40 days before bud break was the most effective in increasing shoot length and yield.