Isolation of a citrus ethylene-responsive element binding factor gene and its expression in response to abiotic stress,girdling and shading

Information about citrus ethylene-responsive element binding factor (ERF) genes and their functions in fruit ripening or in stress tolerance is still scarce. In the present study, one of ERF genes, CitERF was isolated from fruit of Citrus unshiu with a maximal putative open reading frame encoding 207 amino acids. The deduced protein contains a region rich in acidic amino acids, an AP2/ERF domain and a KRRK nuclear localization signal. It belongs to group B of Class I in the ERF subfamily in which MdERF2 (Malus × domestica ethylene-response factor 2) and PsERF1b (Prunus salicina ethylene-response factor 1b) were involved in the progress of fruit ripening. CitERF mRNA level in fruit peel and pulp increased obviously along with fruit ripening. However, its expression could be reduced significantly by treatments of total shading and fruit-bear-shoot girdling plus defoliation during fruit ripening. As for the response to abiotic stresses, CitERF expression was found to be induced continuously during the treatment of 10% polyethylene glycol. On the other hand, it could be induced to high level at 1 h after the treatment of 4 °C or 250 mM NaCl and then declined continuously. Taken together, the results suggested that CitERF may play an important role in some biological processes during fruit ripening and in improving tolerance to drought, low temperature and salt stress.     

Cloning and characterization of 5 MADS-box cDNAs isolated from citrus fruit tissue

We isolated and characterized 5 MADS-box cDNA clones of CitMADS1, CitMADS3, CitMADS5, CitMADS6 and CitMADS8 from fruit tissues of Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc.). Sequence analysis revealed that they have high sequence identities with known MADS-box genes and that their predicted proteins possess the general structural features of the M domain and the K domain. In a phylogenetic tree with 24 known Arabidopsis MADS-box genes, 5 Citrus MADS-box genes were classified into 4 clades of the MADS-box gene with independent gene functions. Their broad expression profiles in the Citrus life cycle suggested that they play roles in flower and fruit development. Most of them, except CitMADS1 and CitMADS3, are expressed in seedlings before the phase transition from vegetative to reproductive growth. CitMADS1 and CitMADS3 are not expressed in vegetative organs and could serve as a molecular marker for reproductive development.     

Expression of chalcone synthase and chalcone isomerase genes and accumulation of corresponding flavonoids during fruit maturation of Guoqing No. 4 satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marcow)

Chalcone synthase (CHS) and chalcone isomerase (CHI) are two key genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis. They were both cloned from Guoqing No. 4 satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marcow), and their relative expression and accumulation of corresponding flavonoid components during fruit maturation were investigated by real-time PCR and HPLC techniques, respectively. During fruit maturation, expression of CHS and CHI genes declined gradually in peels, as well as the concentrations of total flavonoids, trans-chalcone, narirutin and hesperidin; in pulps, however, expression of both genes showed an approximately uptrend, and the concentrations of total flavonoids and those three components were detected in a lower level without significant changes among different developmental periods (P < 0.05). This research confirmed that expression of CHS and CHI genes was positively correlated with flavonoid accumulation and overexpression of them could be a potential approach to produce massive desired flavonoids in citrus fruits.     

Expression of lycopene cyclase genes and their regulation on downstream carotenoids during fruit maturation of Guoqing No. 1 Satsuma mandarin and Cara Cara navel orange

Lycopene β-cyclase (LCYb) and lycopene ?-cyclase (LCYe) are believed to be crucial genes to lycopene cyclization and downstream carotenoid accumulation. To illuminate the gene expression profiles and their regulation on downstream carotenoids, expression profiles of these two genes and contents of several corresponding carotenoids were determined by real-time PCR and HPLC, respectively, in relative shorter intervals during breaker and maturation stage of Guoqing No. 1 satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marcow) and Cara Cara navel orange (Citrus sinensis Osbeck). Data showed that the expression profiles of these two cyclase genes and their relative expression levels between the peels and the pulps at the same stage all varied with cultivars. But in general, accumulation of lutein and β-carotene experienced a similar tendency in both cultivars and were up-regulated by expression of LCYb and LCYe in spite of poor correlation in the pulps. Meanwhile, lycopene abundance was negatively correlated with the expression of LCYe as expected, but hardly correlated with LCYb in the pulps of Cara Cara navel orange, indicating that LCYe might exert a more prominent influence on lycopene cyclization and downstream carotenoids formation. Results of carotenoids accumulation suggest that the biosynthetic process of carotenoids would shift from upstream β, ?- or β, β-carotenoids such as lutein and β-carotene to downstream β, β-carotenoids during fruit development.     

Identification of organic acid-related genes and their expression profiles in two pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) cultivars with difference in predominant acid type at fruit ripening stage

‘Yandangxueli’ is a pear cultivar with predominant citric acid in the ripe fruit, different from most of pear cultivars such as ‘Gengtouqing’ in which malic acid is the predominant acid type. It was found that ‘Yandangxueli’ accumulated citric acid for three times against that in ‘Gengtouqing’ at fruit ripening stage. To investigate the mechanism of citric acid accumulation in ‘Yandangxueli’, organic acids content, gene expression and enzyme activity were studied in both cultivars. Five genes, Pp:mtCs, Pp:cyAco, Pp:cyIdh, Pp:mtMdh and Pp:cyMe which encoded citric synthase (CS), cytosolic aconitase (cyACO), NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase (NADP-IDH), NAD-dependent malate dehydrogenase (NAD-MDH) and NADP-dependent malic enzyme (NADP-ME) respectively, were identified from pear fruit. Their expression profiles and the corresponding enzyme activities were determined throughout fruit development in both cultivars. Results from these enzymes indicated that there were no strict relationship between gene expression, enzyme activity and citric acid accumulation. Expression analysis for two Py:vVAtp genes encoding vacuolar H⁺-ATPase A subunit and one Py:vVpp gene encoding Vacuolar H⁺-pyrophosphatase showed that they were all with up-regulated expression at the later development stage of ‘Yandangxueli’ but with down-regulated expression in ‘Gengtouqing’. Therefore, it is concluded that the different ability in citric acid transportation and storage might be involved in the high citric acid content in ‘Yandangxueli’.     

Defense response of tomato fruit at different maturity stages to salicylic acid and ethephon

In order to elucidate whether fruit maturity stage influence the induced resistance of exogenous elicitors in tomato and the involved mechanisms, we investigated the defense responses of tomato fruits against Botrytis cinerea, ethylene production and internal quality following treatments of fruit with salicylic acid (SA) or ethephon (ET) at mature green (MG) and breaker (BR). SA significantly suppressed decay and disease incidence in tomato fruits at both MG and BR stages, along with higher expression level of PR1 gene after 2 days of treatment. All fruits treated by SA had lower contents of ethylene and lycopene. The ET-treated fruit at both maturity stages showed lower disease incidence and higher level of PR2 and PR3 expression compared with the control fruit. ET treatment significantly enhanced ethylene and lycopene contents, and accelerated fruit ripening. Our results suggest that SA and ET induced disease resistance in fruits by mediating the expression of different pathogenesis-related genes and have different effects on fruit ripening, which in turn influences the disease resistance of tomato fruits.     

MaCDPK7, a calcium-dependent protein kinase gene from banana is involved in fruit ripening and temperature stress responses

Calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK) is an important Ca²⁺ sensor in plant development and responses to stress stimuli. Banana fruit is a typical climacteric- and chilling-sensitive fruit. The roles of CDPK genes in the ripening and chilling response of banana fruit are unclear. We isolated a cDNA fragment with full-length coding MaCDPK7 (HM061075) from fruit peel tissue. Induction of MaCDPK7 expression in fruit peel was observed 0.5 h after phytohormone ethylene treatment, earlier than the up-regulation of MaACO1 and MaACS1, coding a 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase, respectively. Penetration of calcium signaling blockers, EGTA, or LaCl₃ inhibited the ripening and gene expression of MaCDPK7, MaACO1, and MaACS1 in the in vitro cultured peel pieces, but Ca²⁺ application removed the inhibitory effect of EGTA and LaCl₃. This suggested that MaCDPK7 might be a positive regulator involved in the calcium signaling in banana fruit ripening. Under temperature stresses, we found that MaCDPK7 gene expression increased 3 h after hot water dipping (HWD). The HWD-treated fruits exhibited markedly less chilling injury (CI) than control fruits in cold storage. Stored at 7°C (CI temperature) dramatically increased MaCDPK7 gene expression, while pre-treatment of HWD repressed the induction in cold storage. These results show that the MaCDPK7 gene is involved in regulating banana fruit ripening and chilling resistance induced by heat treatment.     

草莓果实发育过程中糖代谢相关基因的表达分析

 为了分析草莓（Fragaria × ananassa Duch.）果实发育过程中可溶性糖积累与相关基因表达量的关系,以‘杜克拉’草莓7个发育时期的果实为试材,利用实时荧光定量RT-PCR的方法,分析果实发育中蔗糖转运蛋白及糖代谢关键酶（酸性转化酶、蔗糖合成酶和蔗糖磷酸合成酶）4个基因的表达量以及可溶性糖含量的变化趋势。结果表明,蔗糖、葡萄糖和果糖含量随着果实发育都呈逐渐增加的趋势,尤其蔗糖积累与果实成熟的关系较密切。随着果实发育,蔗糖磷酸合成酶基因表达量呈逐渐增加的趋势,尤其在果实发育的后期增加较快;蔗糖合成酶和酸性转化酶基因表达量除了白熟期和转色期外,呈逐渐降低的趋势;蔗糖转运蛋白基因表达量呈先升后降,降后又升的变化趋势,尤其在白熟期前急剧增加。结合可溶性糖和基因变化趋势分析表明,蔗糖转运蛋白和蔗糖磷酸合成酶在草莓果实发育过程中发挥着重要的作用。     

甜瓜果实蔗糖磷酸合成酶基因cDNA片段的克隆及表达分析

根据在GenBank中登录的番茄、马铃薯等蔗糖磷酸合成酶基因的保守序列设计引物, 采用RT-PCR方法从甜瓜花后25 d的果实总RNA中扩增出目标cDNA片段, 克隆到pMD18-T载体中。序列分析表明, 该片段与番茄蔗糖磷酸合成酶氨基酸序列同源性为98.9% , GenBank中登记号为DQ355797。通过Northern blot检测其在甜瓜果实不同发育时期的表达变化, 结果表明该基因在甜瓜果实花后25 d开始表达,随着果实的成熟, 表达量升高。     

Acid invertase as a serious candidate to control the balance sucrose versus (glucose + fructose) of banana fruit during ripening

Six banana varieties: 3 ‘dessert’ ones: ‘IDN 110’; ‘Kirun’; and ‘Grande Naine’, and 3 ‘cooking’ ones: ‘Galéo’; ‘Sowmuk’; and ‘French’ were used to investigate the relationship between sugar profiles and activities of sucrose-phosphate synthase (SPS, EC 2.4.1.14), sucrose synthase (SuSy, EC 2.4.1.13) working in the hydrolytic way, invertases (EC 3.2.1.26) (neutral (NIV) and acid (AIV)). Expression of a Musa cell-wall invertase (MaCwINV1/pBANUU103) gene was additionally studied during fruit development and ripening ex planta after ethylene treatment of two of these varieties. Close amounts of soluble sugars (sucrose + glucose + fructose) were measured in the different varieties at ripe stage. SPS activity was either almost constant or increased continuously or transitorily during ripening of all varieties, concomitantly to total soluble sugar (sucrose + glucose + fructose) accumulation. Together with previous data obtained from ‘Cavendish’, our data lead us, (i) to strengthen the hypothesis that this enzyme is likely to have a major role in the synthesis of sucrose during ripening of banana and (ii) to underline the complexity of the mode of SPS activity regulation already pointed out. Interestingly, for the first time in banana, two diploid and cooking varieties: ‘Galéo’ and ‘Sowmuk’ were found almost sucrose-free, in good agreement with a 6.4-fold higher mostly vacuolar AIV activity than that of the two desserts and diploid ones. Otherwise, expression of a MaCwINV1/pBANUU103 (cell wall) gene was followed in the two most contrasted varieties in matter of sucrose content: ‘Sowmuk’ almost sucrose-free, and ‘IDN 110’ accumulating high level of sucrose. Compared to ‘IDN110’, the mRNA level of MaCwINV1/pBANUU103 gene was higher (up to 173-fold) in ‘Sowmuk’ concomitantly with the low level of sucrose of ‘Sowmuk’. Our data let us to conclude that the AIV is probably one of the main determinants involved in the regulation of sucrose level during banana fruit ripening, even if the form, vacuolar or cell wall-linked is not determined yet. Otherwise, the MaCwINV1/pBANUU103 gene appears as a putative candidate gene that could contribute to regulate this level.     

香蕉中一个新的S-腺苷甲硫氨酸合成酶基因的克隆及采后表达分析

利用抑制消减文库从香蕉中分离到一个cDNA片断,结合RACE技术获得该基因的全长序列。该全长cDNA共含1 285个碱基,通过Blastx同源性分析结果显示它与香蕉的一个S-adenosyl-L-methionine synthase(SAMS)基因(GenBank序列号为AF004317)具有82%的碱基同源性,编码的氨基酸顺序有93%同源性,但在cDNA的5’和3’非编码区同源性较低。设计特异引物对此基因进行RT-PCR分析表明,正常成熟的香蕉果实,采后当天表达量较高,随后略有降低,至采后12 d又达到一个相对较高值后迅速下降;高锰酸钾处理的果实,整个成熟期该基因均表现一个比较高的表达量;乙烯利处理的果实,采后表达量明显下降且处在一个比较稳定的水平。     

草莓果实ABA积累关键酶基因FaNCED1和FaBG1转录水平的分析

为探讨草莓果实发育过程中ABA积累的酶学调控机制,文章以花后1～4周的‘杜克拉’草莓7个时期果肉为试材,利用实时荧光定量PCR分析ABA积累关键酶基因FaNCED1和FaBG1转录水平。结果表明,在整个草莓果实发育过程中,果肉中FaNCED1基因表达水平明显地分为两个持续上升阶段,即从小绿期至白熟期和始红期至全红期,但二者之间还存在一个短暂下降期,即白熟期至始红期;果肉中FaBG1基因表达水平呈逐渐降低的趋势。结合果肉中ABA含量分析发现,FaNCED1基因转录水平呈现与ABA水平相似的变化趋势。本研究主要得出以下结论:(1)退绿和着色是草莓果实发育成熟过程中两个突出事件;(2)果肉中ABA水平两次持续快速积累分别与草莓果实退绿和着色相偶联;(3)果肉中ABA含量主要由FaNCED1基因决定,而与FaBG1基因关系不大。以上结果为从分子水平调控草莓果实中ABA含量,进而调控果实的发育奠定研究基础。     

苹果酰基辅酶A结合蛋白2 编码基因MdACBP2的克隆和表达分析

 酰基辅酶A结合蛋白（ACBP）是一个保守的蛋白家族,在酰基酯辅酶A的转运过程中发挥重要作用。在水稻和拟南芥中鉴定的ACBP除了参与长链酰基辅酶A的转运以外,还参与了植物对生物和非生物胁迫的反应。为了探讨在苹果树中是否也存在参与植物对逆境反应的ACBP,并可用于改良苹果品种,以提高抗逆能力,从苹果品种‘鸡冠’中克隆、鉴定了一个ACBP基因,命名为MdACBP2。MdACBP2包含一个378 bp的开放阅读框,编码包含125个氨基酸残基的蛋白质;推定的氨基酸序列中包含有一个ACB结构域,无信号肽序列。序列和结构特征表明该基因是ACBP家族ClassⅠ亚族的成员。利用荧光定量PCR技术检测MdACBP2的表达,发现在苹果的根、叶、花、幼果、枝皮、芽等组织中均有表达,在叶中的表达量最高,在幼果中的表达量最低,这一表达模式暗示MdACBP2可能参与多种生理途径。不同胁迫处理的时序表达分析表明,MdACBP2的表达能被轮纹病病原菌Botryosphaeria dothidea侵染和10% PEG渗透胁迫所抑制,低温胁迫则能诱导MdACBP2的表达,1 mmol·L^-1 Pb(NO₃)₂处理对MdACBP2的表达没有显著影响。推测MdACBP2可能参与了苹果对低温胁迫的防御反应。     

Heat treatments and expansin gene expression in strawberry fruit

Heat treatments have been applied in fruit postharvest technology for insect disinfestations, decay control, ripening delay and modification of fruit responses to other stresses. Heat treatment affects several aspects of fruit ripening, such as ethylene production and cell wall degradation probably through changes in gene expression and protein synthesis. In this paper, strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa Duch., cv Camarosa) at 50–75% red stage of ripening were heat-treated at 45 °C during 3 h in an air oven and then stored at 20 °C for 0, 4, 18, 24 and 48 h. Fruit firmness was determined and the expression of a set of expansin genes (FaEXP1, FaEXP2, FaEXP4, FaEXP5 and FaEXP6) was analyzed. The firmness of treated fruit was higher than that of control fruit 24 h after treatment, though the differences disappeared after 48 h at 20 °C. The analysis by northern-blot indicated that heat treatments affected differently the expression of expansin genes. The expression of FaEXP1, FaEXP2 and FaEXP6 was lower in treated fruit during the following 24 h post-treatment. The lower expression of these expansin genes could contribute to delay softening after heat treatment.     

Cloning,characterization and expression analysis of a 9-lipoxygenase gene in Gladiolus hybridus

Plant lipoxygenases (LOXs) is a functionally diverse class of dioxygenases involved in multiple physiological processes such as growth, senescence, and stress-related responses. Previously, based on the analysis of LOX1 activity and corm formation, it was depicted that LOX1 increased jasmonic acid (JA) synthesis and induced enlargement at top of stolon branches, forming cormels in Gladiolus hybridus. Here, LOX gene (GhLOX1) in full length was isolated from developing corms in G. hybridus. Sequence analysis showed that GhLOX1 was a novel LOX1 gene encoding 9-LOX. Transient expression analysis determined GhLOX1 to be a cytoplasm protein. Real time RT-PCR showed that the mRNA level of GhLOX1 gene correlated positively with LOX activity and was highest in cormels. GhLOX1 mRNA level, LOX activity and endogenous methyl jasmonate (MJ) content in corms increased steadily with a MJ gradient from 0.1 mmol/L to 0.5 mmol/L. Conversely, GhLOX1 mRNA level, LOX activity, and endogenous MJ content in corms steadily decreased with the increasing concentration of Salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM). At the same time, we observed that MJ and SHAM treatments effected both LOX1 mRNA level and LOX activity, leading to promotion and inhibition of corm formation and enlargement, respectively. These data reveal that GhLOX1 is a novel LOX1 gene encoding a cytoplasm 9-LOX protein and its expression would contribute to LOX activity which plays an important role in corm formation and enlargement. In general, GhLOX1 is an ideal candidate for the promotion of corm formation and enlargement by gene manipulation in G. hybridus.     

High GUS expression in protoplasts isolated from immature peach fruits

A protocol for transient expression analysis was developed using protoplast isolated from immature peach fruits. The uid A gene for β-glucuronidase (GUS) was introduced into the protoplast as a reporter gene to evaluate the protoplast activity. Protoplasts isolated from immature fruits at 28–32 days after full bloom (DAFB) showed high GUS activity under the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter. The highest GUS activity was obtained from the protoplasts isolated at 32 DAFB, but it was difficult to isolate protoplasts showing high GUS activity from 34 DAFB. A comparison of the effect of promoter cassette on gene expression showed that the promoter containing the tobacco mosaic virus Ω sequence enhanced GUS activity by at least 10-fold in the peach protoplasts relative to the 35S promoter. The level of GUS activity under the 35S promoter in the peach protoplasts was 0.47-fold as that obtained from maize protoplasts isolated from young greening leaves, indicating that the GUS activity of immature peach protoplast is sufficient for gene expression analysis. Since stable transformation and evaluation of fruit traits in peach transformants are difficult, this transient expression system could be useful for the characterization of genes expressed in peach and other Rosaceae fruit species.     

Methyl jasmonate plays a role in fruit ripening of ‘Pajaro’ strawberry through stimulation of ethylene biosynthesis

The role of methyl jasmonate (MJ) in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch. cv Pajaro) fruit ripening was investigated by monitoring its endogenous concentrations in fruit at various stages of development and the effects of exogenously applied MJ at these stages on ethylene biosynthesis. The concentration of endogenous trans-MJ was significantly higher in the white fruit (31.7–162.2 ng g⁻¹) and decreased sharply in half and fully ripe fruit. Higher concentrations of endogenous trans-MJ at the white stage of strawberry fruit development followed by a decline during fruit ripening indicate that MJ may play an important role in modulating fruit ripening. Significantly increased ethylene production was measured in the fruit when MJ was applied at white, half ripe and at fully ripe stage. The application of MJ (50 μM) resulted in significantly highest ethylene production and increased activities of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) synthase and ACC oxidase as compared to all other treatments. The effect of exogenously applied MJ on ethylene production, ACC synthase and ACC oxidase activities was dependent on concentration of MJ applied and on fruit developmental stage. In conclusion, MJ in strawberry modulates fruit ripening, as its concentration is higher in white fruit and is declined with the progression of ripening and exogenous application of MJ increases ethylene production, activities of ACC oxidase and ACC synthase depending upon the concentration of MJ applied and fruit developmental stage.