Molecular analysis of the improvement in rachis quality by high CO2 levels in table grapes stored at low temperature

Rachis browning is one of the main factors reducing the quality of table grapes during storage at low temperature. To better understand the effect of a 3-day CO₂ pretreatment (20% CO₂ plus 20% O₂) on maintaining the rachis quality of table grapes (Vitis vinifera cv. Cardinal) at 0 °C, we analyzed the expression of genes codifying enzymes related to the synthesis and oxidation of phenolic compounds (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, VcPAL; and polyphenol oxidase, GPO) and the detoxification of reactive oxygen species (catalase, GCAT; and ascorbate peroxidase, VcAPX) in rachis of treated and non-treated bunches. Furthermore, due to their role in senescence, the implication of ethylene and abscisic acid (ABA) was also investigated by studying the expression pattern of key regulatory genes for these hormones such as ACC synthase (ACS1) and oxidase (ACO1), VvNCED1 and 2. To determine whether these changes in gene expression were specifically related to rachis deterioration, their expression pattern in pulp and skin of treated and non-treated grapes were evaluated. The appearance of browning in non-treated rachis was associated with an increase in GPO and VcPAL mRNA levels, whereas high CO₂ levels arrested this accumulation. In pulp, even though browning was not evident, a slight increase in GPO1 mRNA accumulation in non-treated bunches was detected. Moreover, lipid peroxidation level revealed lower oxidative stress in rachis of CO₂-treated bunches than in non-treated ones, which seemed to be regulated by VcAPX and GCAT gene expression induction. This regulation was specific to rachis, showing a different pattern in pulp and skin. Regarding phytohormones, the effect of high CO₂ levels reducing rachis browning seems to be linked to the modulation of ethylene biosynthesis genes. On the other hand, neither VvNCED1 nor VvNCED2 expression levels were altered in rachis, but NCED1 was induced specifically by low temperature in pulp. Overall, our results suggest a specific response of rachis to high levels of CO₂ that could be related to the mitigation of rachis browning.     

Moisture loss is the major cause of firmness change during postharvest storage of blueberry

Blueberry softening is known to be influenced by cell wall modifications accompanying ripening but these changes appear to be largely complete by the time of harvest. In this study postharvest storage conditions were controlled so only the extent of water loss varied between treatments. A linear relationship between weight loss and loss of firmness (as assessed by a non-destructive compression test) was demonstrated. This relationship did not hold at very low weight loss, where instead, firming of blueberries during storage was found. Magnetic resonance imaging of berries confirmed significant shrinkage and loss of water in berries which had high weight loss, compared with more subtle effects on sub-epidermal water content in berries with very low weight loss. Treatments which restrict blueberry water loss to below 8% are likely to be beneficial in retaining acceptable berry firmness for up to three weeks’ storage.     

Low temperature-induced water-soaking of Dendrobium inflorescences: Relation with phospholipase D activity,thiobarbaturic-acid-staining membrane degradation products,and membrane fatty acid composition

We compared the effects of cold storage (5 °C) on two Dendrobium cultivars. After various periods of storage the cut inflorescences were transferred to 25 °C. Water-soaking of the tepals was the main chilling-injury symptom. Cv. Earsakul showed higher CI sensitivity than cv. Khao Sanan. Phospholipase D (PLD) activity increased during 5 °C storage in both cultivars, but generally increased more in cv. Earsakul during the subsequent period at 25 °C. The level of lipid degradation products (including malondialdehyde) that react with thiobarbaturic acid was higher in cv. Earsakul than in cv. Khao Sanan. In contrast to expectation, the ratio between unsaturated and saturated fatty acids was higher, and remained higher during cold storage, in cv. Earsakul than in cv. Khao Sanan. The data suggest that water-soaking due to cold storage of Dendrodium inflorescences involves membrane damage, likely related to activation of PLD and accumulation of lipid degradation products. The level of unsaturated fatty acids apparently did not protect against CI. The data seem to question the general view that unsaturated fatty acids protect against CI.     

The enhanced disease susceptibility phenotype of ethylene-insensitive tobacco cannot be counteracted by inducing resistance or application of bacterial antagonists

In an attempt to overcome the enhanced disease susceptibility phenotype that is typical for transgenic ethylene-insensitive tobacco (Tetr), Tetr plants were treated with chemical agents that induce resistance or with antagonistic rhizobacteria. Treatments with β-aminobutyric acid (BABA), benzo-(1,2,3)-thiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid S-methyl ester (BTH), methyl jasmonate (MeJA), or salicylic acid (SA) induced PR-genes generally to a lesser extent than in non-transformed plants and did not reduce wilting symptoms upon infection with Pythium sp., except for a marginal effect of SA. In Tetr lines overexpressing PR-1g, PR-5c, or both, no significant reduction in disease development was apparent. Also treatment of Tetr plants with the antagonistic rhizobacteria Bacillus cereus UW85, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 7NSK2, Pseudomonas fluorescens WCS417r or Q8r-196, Pseudomonas putida WCS358r, or antibiotic-producing derivatives of WCS358r, did not reduce symptoms caused by Pythium.     

为害小麦新害虫——显脉污灯蛾Spilarctia bisecta Leech (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae)

小麦是我国三大粮食作物之一, 其在生产过程中受到多种害虫为害;在调查重庆市潼南区小麦病虫害过程中新发现一种鳞翅目害虫为害小麦, 对其进行形态学及细胞色素氧化酶Ⅰ亚基(cytochrome oxidase Ⅰ, COⅠ)基因序列鉴定, 确定其为显脉污灯蛾Spilarctia bisecta Leech。污灯蛾属中有多种为害农作物的害虫, 但显脉污灯蛾在中国还未有为害小麦的确切报道, 这一发现提醒我们应当注意小麦和其他禾本科作物上的潜在害虫。     

桃蛀螟对青霉菌侵染苹果的产卵选择与行为趋向反应

为探明桃蛀螟Conogethes punctiferalis偏好于在青霉菌Penicillium侵染的苹果上产卵的特点与机理,从苹果、玉米和柑橘上分离、纯化获得15株青霉菌,通过形态学和rDNA-ITS序列分析鉴定后,以健康苹果为对照,测试不同青霉菌菌株侵染的苹果对桃蛀螟产卵选择的影响,并利用四臂嗅觉仪测试桃蛀螟对青霉菌诱导的苹果挥发物的行为趋向反应。结果表明,15株青霉菌分别属于皮落青霉P. crustosum、橘青霉P. citrinum、苏门答腊青霉P. sumatrense和指状青霉P. digitatum的不同株型;桃蛀螟对其中的12株青霉菌侵染的苹果的产卵选择率均极显著高于健康苹果,尤其对皮落青霉CO5菌株、苏门答腊青霉OR3菌株和指状青霉OR5菌株侵染的苹果的产卵选择率最高,分别达到67.73%、61.50%和68.39%;桃蛀螟对感染皮落青霉CO5菌株和指状青霉OR5菌株的苹果挥发物的选择率分别为31.37%和29.19%,均显著高于对感染橘青霉OR1菌株和苏门答腊青霉OR3菌株的苹果挥发物的选择率18.14%和21.31%,且前二者之间、后二者之间均无显著差异。表明青霉菌可通过影响寄主植物挥发物释放,从而影响桃蛀螟对寄主植物的产卵选择和行为趋向反应。     

Volatile compounds,quality parameters and consumer acceptance of ‘Pink Lady®’ apples stored in different conditions

Standard quality parameters, consumer acceptance, and volatile compound emission of ‘Pink Lady^®’ apples (Malus × domestica Borkh.) were measured at harvest and after 14 and 25 weeks of cold storage in three different atmospheres. After storage, fruit were left to ripen for 1 and 7 days at 20 °C before instrumental and sensory measurements were performed. Data were subjected to principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least square regression (PLSR). PLSR results indicated that the parameters positively influencing acceptability were soluble solid content, titratable acidity, background colour, and emission of hexyl 2-methylbutanoate, hexyl hexanoate, hexyl propanoate, butyl 2-methylbutanoate, 2-methylbutyl acetate and butyl propanoate. Results of sensory analyses revealed the treatments considered in this work could be split into two levels of acceptability.     

Towards flexible management of postharvest variation in fruit firmness of three apple cultivars

Stochastic modeling provides a useful tool in managing biological variation in the postharvest chain. In the current study, the fruit-to-fruit variability in the postharvest firmness of apples was modeled. Apples from three cultivars (‘Jonagold’, ‘Braeburn’, and ‘Kanzi’) were harvested at different levels of maturity, and stored at different temperatures and controlled atmosphere (CA) conditions. By using a kinetic model describing firmness breakdown as a function of time, temperature, controlled atmosphere conditions and endogenous ethylene concentration, the main stochastic variables were identified as the initial firmness and the rate constants for firmness breakdown and ethylene production. Treating these variables as random model parameters, the Monte Carlo method was used to simulate the propagation of the fruit-to-fruit variability in flesh firmness within a batch of apples during storage under different CA conditions and subsequent shelf-life exposure. The model was validated using independent data sets from apples picked in a different season. The model developed in this study can be used to predict the probability of having apples of certain firmness after long term storage for different scenarios of temperatures and CA conditions.     

Light modulation of volatile organic compounds from petunia flowers and select fruits

Light intensity, duration, direction, and wavelength are informative to plants. The biochemical circuits that connect specific light wavelengths to expression of specific genes and the metabolic networks they govern have been well defined. However, little emphasis has been placed on how discrete wavelengths of light, alone or in combination, may be applied to manipulate postharvest qualities of high-value horticultural crops. Using narrow-bandwidth LED light we test the hypothesis that discrete light wavelengths can affect the accumulation of volatile compounds known to affect aroma or taste in select flower and fruit products. Volatile benzenoid/phenylpropanoid emission from petunia flowers could be altered with light application. Levels of a key floral volatile, 2-phenylethanol, increased with a red and far-red light treatment. Similar experiments demonstrated that fruit volatile profiles of tomato, strawberry, and blueberry can be manipulated with specific light treatments. These results suggest that compounds affecting sensory qualities of flowers and fruits can be modified by adjustment of ambient light conditions. These findings open new areas of inquiry about how the fragrance and flavor of flowers and fruits may be improved with simple changes in postharvest light conditions.     

Predicting the spread of postharvest disease in stored fruit,with application to apples

Postharvest diseases can cause considerable damage to harvested fruit in controlled atmosphere storage. Since there is a large cost associated with opening the storage rooms, regular assessment of damage levels is not feasible, and many experts agree on the need for a reliable predictive model. Presented here is a simulation model that predicts the overall incidence of disease in a bin of stored fruit as a function of initial infection levels and the fruit's susceptibility to fungal attack. Uninfected fruit tissue, infected fruit tissue, and fungal growth are modelled by a system of three ordinary differential equations. Simulations of the growth and spread of the pathogen in storage were conducted, with disease incidence measured monthly. The model provides insight into the dynamics of postharvest fungal disease, and forms the basis of a predictive model that could be used by packinghouses to determine how long a given crop of fruit can be stored before the infection risk rises above a predetermined tolerable level.