Cellulose synthesis during endocarp hardening of peach fruit

Summary

Changes in cellulose content and the accumulation of PpCesA1 mRNA, putatively encoding the catalytic subunit of cellulose synthase (CesA), were analysed in endocarp and mesocarp during endocarp hardening in peach fruit. The cellulose content of the endocarp was undetectable or very low [< 0.1 mg g^–1 fresh weight (FW) of endocarp] until 48 d after full bloom (DAFB), but began to increase rapidly at 55 DAFB, when the endocarp had attained its maximum size, and reached 4.4 mg g^–1 FW of endocarp at 85 DAFB. In contrast, the cellulose content of the mesocarp reached a detectable level (1.5 mg g^–1 FW of mesocarp) at 34 DAFB, stayed at this level until 85 DAFB, but then was lower at 107 DAFB. PpCesA1 mRNA was detected in the endocarp throughout the hardening, but was undetectable in the mesocarp. It is suggested that PpCesA1 has a role in the rapid synthesis of cellulose in the secondary cell walls of endocarp tissue during hardening.