Inhibition of postharvest senescence of green leafy vegetables by exogenous D-cysteine and L-cysteine as precursors of hydrogen sulphide

Hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) inhibits senescence in harvested fruit and vegetables but presents logistical, safety and regulatory issues to become a commercial treatment. D-cysteine and L-cysteine are semi-essential amino acids that are metabolised to hydrogen sulphide by plant tissues albeit by different pathways. This paper examines the effect of cysteine on postharvest senescence of three green leafy vegetables. Spraying pak choy leaves with 10 mmol D-cysteine, L-cysteine or DL-cysteine inhibited leaf senescence through a delayed loss of green colour expressed as market life, reduced respiration rate and reduced ethylene production. The beneficial effects of cysteine were similar to those achieved by fumigation with hydrogen sulphide. L-cysteine sprays on parsley and peppermint leaves also showed reduced leaf colour loss and respiration compared to untreated leaves. Cysteine, either as the racemate or individual enantiomers, is considered to have commercial potential for green leafy vegetables as it provides the beneficial effect of hydrogen sulphide but should be easier to register for commercial use due to the GRAS status of L-cysteine.     

1-MCP处理对“丽格”海棠果实采后生理及品质的影响

以"丽格"海棠果实为试材,研究经1.0μL/L的1-MCP处理后,室温(20±1)℃条件下贮藏的海棠果实品质和生理变化,并利用主成分对采后测定的各项生理指标进行分析。结果表明,与不加1-MCP的对照组相比,1-MCP处理可保持海棠果实硬度,抑制可溶性固形物(TSS)含量的升高,减缓VC含量的降低、果皮叶绿素的分解和过氧化物酶(POD)活性的下降,降低呼吸强度和乙烯生成速率,有效地延缓果实衰老,使海棠果更耐贮藏。主成分分析在特征值大于1时将经1-MCP处理后的海棠果实8个生理指标综合为2个因子,累积方差贡献率达到84.44%,其中第1主成分主要代表果肉硬度和叶绿素信息,第2主成分主要代表乙烯释放量信息。     

热带果蔬采后冷害研究进展

果蔬采后冷害机制及其防控是当前采后研究领域中倍受关注的科技问题。果蔬冷害发生是由内在因子和外部环境因素共同作用的结果。近年来,随着现代分子生物学技术的应用,并借鉴模式植物拟南芥的研究成果,果蔬采后冷害发生调控机理及防控技术研究取得一系列进展。本文综述了热带果蔬采后冷害发生的生理与分子机制和冷害防控技术的最新研究成果,关注能量代谢调控果蔬采后冷害作用,重点介绍了生物技术在防控果蔬冷害上的应用,并对今后研究方向作了展望。     

New Approaches to Modeling Methyl Jasmonate Effects on Pomegranate Quality during Postharvest Storage

Adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) and genetic algorithm–artificial neural network (GA-ANN) models were used to predict the effect of methyl jasmonate (at three levels 0, 0.01, and 0.1 mM) and storage time (0, 14, 28, 42, 56, 70, and 84 days) on quality parameters and physiological changes of pomegranate fruits during storage. Methyl jasmonate reduced chilling injury and improved quality characteristics of pomegranates during postharvest storage. The GA-ANN and ANFIS were fed with two inputs of methyl jasmonate and storage time. The results showed that GA-ANN predictions agreed with experimental data and the GA-ANN with 14 neurons in one hidden layer can predict physiological changes and quality parameters of pomegranate (weight loss, pH, chilling injury index, ion leakage, ethylene, respiration, polyphenols, anthocyanins, and total antioxidant activity) with correlation coefficients equal to 0.87. The ANFIS model was trained by a hybrid method and agreement between experimental data and ANFIS predictions was significant (r = 0.90).     

Phenolic compounds in plant disease resistance

We propose that an important first line in plant defense against infection is provided by the very rapid synthesis of phenolics and their polymerization in the cell wall. This rapid synthesis, which leaves no time forde novo enzyme synthesis, is regulated by the extreme pH-dependence of the hydroxylase, catalyzing the formation of caffeoyl-CoA from 4-coumaroyl-CoA. We further propose that elicitor treatment or infection causes rapid membrane changes leading to a decrease in cytoplasmic pH. This decrease would have the effect of activating the hydroxylase.     

Nutritional Enhancement of Biocontrol Activity of Candida sake (CPA-1) against Penicillium expansum on Apples and Pears

Pome fruits are poor in nitrogenous compounds and the addition of nitrogen can improve colonisation of the fruits by antagonists. Twenty-two nitrogenous compounds were evaluated for their effect on Candida sake (CPA-1) growth in vitro. Ten compounds that induced greater growth were applied with the antagonist to wounded fruits to evaluate their effect on enhancing control of Penicillium expansum. Calcium chloride and 2-deoxy-D-glucose were also tested. L-serine and L-aspartic acid enhanced biocontrol by C. sake against P. expansum on apples. On apples and pears, ammonium molybdate, calcium chloride and 2-deoxy-D-glucose improved the capacity of the antagonist to control P. expansum. The addition of ammonium molybdate at 1 mM allowed C. sake to be used on apples and pears at a lower concentration without diminishing control. Similar results were observed with the addition of calcium chloride to the antagonist. 2-deoxy-D-glucose at 6 and 18 mM enhanced biocontrol on pears by over 81%, but on apples the improvement of biocontrol was observed only at 6 mM. In cold storage, the combination of ammonium molybdate and C. sake completely eliminated the incidence of blue mould on pears, and reduced its severity and incidence by more than 80% on apples.     

Induction of Systemic Resistance in Cucumber against Several Diseases by Plant Growth-promoting Fungi: lignification and Superoxide Generation

Five fungal isolates (Trichoderma, Fusarium, Penicillium, Phoma and a sterile fungus) from zoysiagrass rhizosphere that promote plant growth were tested for their ability to induce systemic resistance in cucumber plants against Colletotrichum orbiculare. Roots of cucumber plants were treated with these fungal isolates using barley grain inocula (BGI), mycelial inocula (MI) or culture filtrate (CF). Most isolate/inoculum form combinations significantly reduced the disease except BGI of Trichoderma. These fungal isolates were also evaluated for induction of systemic resistance against bacterial angular leaf spot and Fusarium wilt by treatment with BGI. Penicillium, Phoma and the sterile fungus significantly reduced the disease incidence of bacterial angular leaf spot. Phoma and sterile fungus protected plants significantly against Fusarium wilt. Roots treated with CFs of these fungal isolates induced lignification at Colletotrichum penetration points indicating the presence of an elicitor in the CFs. The elicitor activity of CFs was evaluated by the chemiluminescence assay using tobacco callus and cucumber fruit disks. The CFs of all isolates elicited conspicuous superoxide generation. The chemiluminescence activity of the CF of Penicillium was extremely high, and its intensity was almost 100-fold higher than that of other isolates. The chemiluminescence activity was not lost following treatment with protease or autoclaving or after removal of lipid. The MW 12,000 dialyzed CF fraction was highly effective in eliciting chemiluminescence activity. Chemiluminescence emission from cucumber fruit disks treated with Penicillium was the same as that obtained from tobacco callus, except that the lipid fraction also showed a high activity. Both the MW 12,000 fraction and the lipid fraction induced lignification in the epidermal tissues of cucumber hypocotyls.     

Histological investigation of stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis f.sp. tritici) development in resistant and susceptible wheat cultivars

The wheat cultivar Kariega expresses complete adult plant resistance against stripe rust, whereas cv. Avocet S is susceptible. Using confocal laser scanning microscopy, initial fungal penetration into flag leaves was identical in both cultivars, with directional germ-tube growth towards stomata that were penetrated without the formation of an appressorium, followed by differentiation of a substomatal vesicle, infection hyphae, haustorial mother cells and haustoria. During the following 4 days, further fungal development occurred more quickly in the resistant than in the susceptible cultivar. However, by 7 days postinoculation (dpi) the situation changed, with exponential growth of the pathogen occurring only in the susceptible line. Induced cellular lignification, a typical defence reaction of cereals, was observed at 4 dpi in the resistant cultivar, and 2 days later lignified tissue completely surrounded the fungal colonies. In the susceptible cultivar, isolated lignified host cells occurred at 6 dpi, and long, unbranched fungal hyphae outgrowing the resistance reaction were observed.     

灰霉菌(Botrytis cinerea)采后致病性研究

 灰霉菌(Botrytis cinerea)是引起葡萄采后病害的主要病原真菌之一。葡萄灰霉菌可在田间潜伏侵染,采后由健康果实携带进入销售市场,该菌的显著致病症状为果实软腐和脱落。灰霉菌与葡萄的其它采后致病菌,如链格孢菌(Alternaria alternata)、镰刀菌(Fusarium sp.)、芽枝霉(Cladosporium sp.)、青霉菌(Penicillium sp.)、黑曲霉(Aspergillus nigar)和粉红单端孢菌(Trichothecium roseum)相比,不仅表现出明显的潜伏侵染优势,而且具有较强的低温(4℃)条件下的致病优势。4℃低温下灰霉菌在寄主葡萄体外和体内分泌多聚半乳糖醛酸酶(PG)活力均显著高于以上各菌,而在25℃下无显著差异,这一结果与该2种温度下灰霉菌接种果实后的症状表现一致。