A convenient protocol for extraction and purification of DNA from Fragaria

Summary In this paper we describe a simple and efficient DNA extraction protocol for Fragaria species, a highly recalcitrant genus due to the large amount of polyphenols and polymeric carbohydrates present in strawberry tissues. The protocol yields a high quality DNA that can be amplified by polymerase chain reaction and digested with restriction endonucleases.     

The naturally occurring furanones: formation and function from pheromone to food

Three closely related 4-hydroxy-3(2H)-furanones have been found in a range of highly cooked foodstuffs where they are important flavour compounds with aroma threshold values as low as 20 micrograms kg-1 water (approximately 0.14 mumol l-1). The compounds are formed mainly as a result of the operation of the Maillard reactions between sugars and amino acids during heating but one compound, 5-(or 2)-ethyl-2-(or 5)-methyl-4-hydroxy-3(2H)-furanone, appears in practice to be produced by yeast, probably from a Maillard intermediate, during the fermentation stages in the production of soy sauce and beer. The compounds are also important in the flavour of strawberry, raspberry, pineapple and tomato but the route of biosynthesis is unknown. Two 3-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanones, emoxyfuranone and sotolon, which are produced spontaneously from amino acids such as threonine and 4-hydroxy-L-leucine are major contributors to meaty and spicy/nutty flavours in foods. The biosynthesis of 5-(1,2-dihydroxyethyl)-3,4-dihydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (ascorbic acid, vitamin C) and 5-hydroxymethyl-3,4-dihydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (erythroascorbic acid) from sugars in plants and yeast, respectively, has been characterized to the enzymic level. After treatment with chlorine, humic waters contain a range of chloro-furanones, some of which, particularly 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (MX), are powerful mutagens. The furanones which occur in foods are also mutagenic to bacteria and cause DNA damage in laboratory tests. However, these compounds are, in practice, very effective anti-carcinogenic agents in the diets of animals which are being treated with known cancer-inducing compounds such as benzo[alpha]pyrene or azoxymethane. Two of the food-derived furanones have antioxidant activity comparable to that of ascorbic acid. A biological function has been discovered for some of the furanones besides vitamin C. 5-Methyl-4-hydroxy-3(2H)-furanone is a male pheromone in the cockroach Eurycolis florionda (Walker) and the 2,5-dimethyl derivative deters fungal growth on strawberries and is an important component of the attractive aroma of the fruit. The red seaweed Delisea pulchra (Greville) Montagne produces a range of brominated furanones which prevent colonisation of the plant by bacteria by interfering with the acylated homoserine lactone (AHL) signalling system used by the bacteria for quorum sensing. In addition, these compounds can deter grazing by marine herbivores. It is proposed here that the evolved biological function of a number of furanones is to act as inter-organism signal molecules in several different systems. This has resulted in two coincidental effects which are important for humans. Firstly, the easily oxidized nature of the furanones in general, which is likely to be an important property in their functioning as signal molecules, results in both mutagenic and anti-carcinogenic activity. The balance of these two effects from compounds in the diet has yet to be fully established. Secondly, and more specifically, the 4-hydroxy-3(2H)-furanones associated with fruit aromas act to attract animals to the fruit, which ensures seed dispersal. In the case of humans, the coincidental synthesis of some of these compounds in foods during preparation results in these foods appearing particularly attractive through the transferred operation of the original signalling mechanisms.     

Changes in ascorbate–glutathione pathway enzymes in response to Mycosphaerella fragariae infection in selected strawberry genotypes

Ten strawberry genotypes, resistant and moderately resistant (Joliette, Seascape, Aromas, FIN005-55 and FIN005-50) and susceptible ones (FIN00132-8, FIN00134-11, FIN00132-14, FIN005-7 and Kent) were used to assess the role of the antioxidative defence system against Mycosphaerella fragariae infection. The pathogen-induced changes of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and antioxidant enzymes ascorbate peroxidase (APX), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) and glutathione reductase (GR) involved in the ascorbate–glutathione (ASC–GSH) cycle were examined in leaves of the selected genotypes. A significant different response was observed among the genotypes. A marked increase in H₂O₂ content, APX, MDHAR, DHAR and GR activities were observed in resistant and moderately resistant genotypes after inoculation by M. fragariae. In contrast, weak changes were observed in susceptible genotypes for the aforementioned enzymes and compounds. It seems that resistant genotypes capable of overproducing H₂O₂ have a higher capacity to scavenge and reduce the injury to strawberry leaves by regulating the ASC–GSH cycle. The results may be useful in future breeding programmes to select those individuals with high scavenging properties to breed new resistant lines.     

Expression of genes involved in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway in white and red fruits of Fragaria pentaphylla and genetic variation in the dihydroflavonol-4-reductase gene

Structural and regulatory genes control fruit colors in plants. Real-time quantitative PCR results showed significantly higher expression levels of structural genes (FpCHS, FpDFR, FpANS, and FpUFGT) as well as of the regulatory gene MYB10 in red fruits of Fragaria pentaphylla compared to white fruits. These genes were strongly associated with anthocyanin accumulation within fruits. The full-length sequence of the FpDFR gene in red fruits of F. pentaphylla had a length of 2080 bp, was separated by five introns, and shared 95% homology with the F. vesca DFR sequence. Twenty-seven SNPs were detected in the FpDFR gDNA sequences between red and white fruits. Among these, transition substitutions were more frequent than transversions (66.7% vs. 33.3%), and a larger number of nucleotide variants existed in introns compared to exons (70.4% vs. 29.6%). A Chi-square test showed only three SNPs significantly associated with fruit color. Combined with structural analyses of the FpDFR protein and an expression analysis of the anthocyanin pathway genes, these results indicate that trans-regulation might contribute to color control in F. pentaphylla.     

Purification and some properties of strawberry mottle virus

Strawberry mottle virus (SMoV) (three isolates: HJ, 3E and N) were transmitted to Chenopodium quinoa plants by sap inoculation. All three isolates induced very similar symptoms consisting of chlorotic spots and ringspots in inoculated leaves, and vein chlorosis, mottling, and dwarfing of the upper leaves. SMoV isolate HJ was purified from infected C. quinoa by homogenisation with 10 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7.2 containing 5% Triton X-100, followed by differential, sucrose density-gradient and CsCl equilibrium density-gradient centrifugations. A fraction with a buoyant density of 1.42g^- cm^-3 after CsCl density-gradient centrifugation was highly infectious to C. quinoa and contained many isometric virus-like particles c. 37 nm in diameter. These virus-like particles were never found in fractions from uninfected preparations. Electrophoretic analysis of a fraction containing virus-like particles revealed that these particles might have a single coat protein subunit with the apparent molecular mass of 26 K daltons and one nucleic acid of 6.6 kilobases. Double-stranded RNA analysis of isolate HJ-infected or uninfected C. quinoa and Fragaria vesca var. semperflorens seedling line ‘Alpine’ plants showed that both infected plants had two infection-specific dsRNA bands of mol. wts 4.5 and 3.9 × 10⁶.     

Sugar uptake into strawberry fruit is stimulated by abscisic acid and indoleacetic acid

Changes in sugar uptake into strawberry fruits with maturation and the hormonal effect on uptake mechanisms, though important to fruit development, are not known. Therefore, the kinetics of sugar uptake into strawberry ( Fragaria x ananassa Duch cv. Nyoho) fruit tissue and the effects of abscisic acid (ABA) and indoleacetic acid (LAA) on the mechanism of uptake were investigated at 25 and 35 days after pollination (DAP). Uptake of ¹⁴C-sugar was measured over the concentration range of 2 to 30 m M. Uptake kinetics showed a biphasic response to increasing external concentration of ¹⁴C-sugars, and indicated the presence of P -chlorormercuribenzenesulfonic acid (PCMBS)-sensitive and PCMBS-insensitive uptake. The K_m value for each sugar was in the range of 10 to 20 m M. Stage of development had no effect on K_m. but V_max for glucose decreased with maturation. Further, sucrose was not taken up through a PC-MBS-sensitive transport at 35 DAP. ABA, especially 10 μ M , at 25 DAP stimulated uptake of all sugars, mostly through enhanced PCMBS-insensitive uptake but not PC-MBS-sensitive uptake. In contrast to ABA, stimulation of sugar uptake by IAA was most effective at 1 μ M . The PCMBS-insensitive uptake of each sugar was also stimulated by IAA. Further, the PCMBS-sensitive uptake of glucose was enhanced. The developmental change of PCMBS-sensitive sugar uptake and the effect of ABA and IAA on uptake mechanism in this study are considered to be important in influencing the development and enlargement of fruits.     

草莓苗冷藏过程中内源激素水平变化及相关分析

以宝交早生一年生草莓苗为材料,研究和分析了长期冷藏（０℃）过程中各种内源激素的含量水平、变化及相关关系。冷藏苗和对照苗的差异典型地表现在根部的激素含量上。冷藏苗的ＡＢＡ含量始终比对照苗低,Ｚｅａｔｉｎ、Ｚｅａｔｉｎ ｒｉｂｏｓｉｄｅ、ＧＡ３和ＩＡＡ的含量却始终比对照高。其内源激素的变化既不同于有休眠特性的洋葱,也不同于无休眠特性的甘兰。各种内源激素之间的相关分析表明激素之间存在着显著的协同关系。     

五倍体草莓及其十倍体的叶片差异表达蛋白分析

以二倍体绿色草莓(Fragaria viridis Duch.)为父本、八倍体栽培草莓‘房香’(F.×ananassa‘Fusanoka’)为母本杂交所得的五倍体草莓(株系代号:FxLs-11-37,2n=5x=35)及其染色体加倍而成的十倍体(株系代号:A3,2n=10x=70)草莓为试材,观察记载其部分农艺性状、SPAD值以及净光合速率,利用双向凝胶电泳技术对草莓染色体加倍后叶片蛋白质进行了分析,获得了分辨率高、重复性好的电泳图谱。结果表明:(1)与五倍体FxLs-11-37相比,十倍体A3的株型明显矮化、植株冠径变大、叶长叶宽增大、叶片增厚以及叶色浓绿,其叶片的SPAD值与净光合速率显著高于FxLs-11-37。(2)通过PDQuest软件对图谱分析表明,两者在等电点4~7、分子量14.4~66.2kD范围内蛋白质斑点分布最多,可识别的总蛋白质斑点数超过700个,其中蛋白质表达差异水平在1.5倍以上的有18个,2.0倍以上的有4个。利用MALDI-TOF-MS/MS质谱技术鉴定了这4个差异蛋白质,分别是草莓主要过敏原a 1-E、核内不均一核糖核蛋白1、叶绿体硫辛酰基合酶1、NAD(P)H脱氢酶(醌)FQR1类似蛋白质。这些差异蛋白质主要与抗逆、mRNA转运、物质与能量代谢相关。荧光定量PCR对上述4个蛋白编码基因的转录表达水平检测表明,与蛋白质表达差异的趋势一致。该研究获得了草莓染色体加倍后差异表达的蛋白质,为深入研究提供了线索。     

Effect of calcium on cell-wall degrading enzymes of Botrytis cinerea

Effective anti-Botrytis strategies leading to reduce pesticides on strawberries are examined to provide the protection that is harmless to humans, higher animals and plants. Calcium treatments significantly inhibited the spore germination and mycelial growth of B. cinerea. The intracellular polygalacturonase and CMCase showed low activities in B. cinerea cultivated by medium containing calcium. On the other hand, calcium-stimulated β-glucosidases production occurred. Our findings suggest that the calcium treatments keep CMCase activity low and cause low activities of cell-wall degrading enzymes of B. cinerea in the late stage of growth.     

A UDP‐glucosyltransferase functions in both acylphloroglucinol glucoside and anthocyanin biosynthesis in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa)

Physiologically active acylphloroglucinol (APG) glucosides were recently found in strawberry (Fragaria sp.) fruit. Although the formation of the APG aglycones has been clarified, little is known about APG glycosylation in plants. In this study we functionally characterized ripening‐related glucosyltransferase genes in Fragaria by comprehensive biochemical analyses of the encoded proteins and by a RNA interference (RNAi) approach in vivo. The allelic proteins UGT71K3a/b catalyzed the glucosylation of diverse hydroxycoumarins, naphthols and flavonoids as well as phloroglucinols, enzymatically synthesized APG aglycones and pelargonidin. Total enzymatic synthesis of APG glucosides was achieved by co‐incubation of recombinant dual functional chalcone/valerophenone synthase and UGT71K3 proteins with essential coenzyme A esters and UDP‐glucose. An APG glucoside was identified in strawberry fruit which has not yet been reported in other plants. Suppression of UGT71K3 activity in transient RNAi‐silenced fruits led to a loss of pigmentation and a substantial decrease of the levels of various APG glucosides and an anthocyanin. Metabolite analyses of transgenic fruits confirmed UGT71K3 as a UDP‐glucose:APG glucosyltransferase in planta. These results provide the foundation for the breeding of fruits with improved health benefits and for the biotechnological production of bioactive natural products.