Variation and genetic parameters of fruit colour and polyphenol composition in an apple seedling population segregating for red leaf

Red flesh colour is a relatively new target for apple breeding programmes and understanding genetic relationships between this trait and other fruit characters, including polyphenol compounds, is important for both breeders and marketers of new red flesh cultivars. In this study, fruit peel and flesh colours and concentrations of up to 20 individual fruit polyphenols within each tissue were examined in fruit harvested from a 14-family apple seedling population segregating for red and green leaf. Red leaf seedlings always produced red flesh fruit that varied from pale red to complete dark red cortical tissue (type 1 red flesh). Some (20 %) of green leaf seedlings also produced fruit with red flesh, albeit at low intensity (type 2 red flesh). Cyanidin 3-O-galactoside was the dominant anthocyanin in both fruit tissues, with concentrations being 1,900 times higher in the flesh and 2.5 times higher in the peel of fruit from red than from green leaf seedlings. Red leaf seedlings also had 59 % more flesh epicatechin and 17 % less total peel flavonols, but other polyphenols were not associated with leaf colour. Heritability estimates for red flesh colour, flesh cyanidin 3-O-galactoside, flesh and peel catechins were high in red leaf and low in green leaf seedlings. Conversely, estimates for red peel coverage and two peel anthocyanins were higher in green compared to those from red leaf seedlings. Other than these, heritability estimates were high only for dihydrochalcones and hydroxycinnamic acids from each tissue for both leaf colours but low for all other flesh and peel flavan-3-ols, procyanidins and most peel flavonols irrespective of leaf colour. Genetic correlations between polyphenol compounds varied considerably, but were broadly similar for red and green leaf seedlings. Genetic correlations were mostly moderate to high between compounds of the same metabolic group, but low between compounds from different groups. These results are discussed in relation to the genetic control of flesh colour and polyphenol accumulation in apple, as well as to implications for breeding red flesh apples with altered polyphenol composition.     

单性结实和自花授粉结实柑橘果实发育中硼镁营养动态的研究

以单性结实的龟井温州蜜柑和自花授粉结实的鄂柑1号橘为试材,对整个果实发育期的子房(幼果)、果皮和果肉的硼镁含量变化进行了测定。结果表明:1)龟井花前至花期子房硼含量就已较高,花后下降;而鄂柑1号花期子房硼含量相对较低,花后有一显著上升;两品种子房(幼果)镁含量变化无明显差异,花后均趋下降。2)两品种果皮硼含量变幅较小,而果肉硼含量变幅相对较大,且均在果实膨大期出现明显的上升高峰;两品种果皮和果肉镁含量在果实发育前期均相对较高,在果实发育的中后期则趋明显下降。     

两结实类型柑橘果实铁锰锌铜含量的年周期变化(英文)

对单性结实的龟井温州蜜柑和自花授粉结实的鄂柑1号柑橘果实的铁、锰、锌和铜含量的年周期变化进行了测定。结果表明:(1)龟井子房的锌和铜含量在花前至花期居较高,花后趋下降,而鄂柑1号对应值在花期出现明显下降并居较低,花后却有一明显上升;两品种子房(幼果)的铁和锰含量变化却无明显差异,花后呈类似的下降趋势。(2)幼果阶段的果实铁、锰、锌和铜含量均居较高,在果实膨大初期(干旱期)均出现一明显下降,而在果实膨大中期却出现显著上升,之后又趋下降。本文还对果实发育中的微量元素含量动态及其与果实发育之间的关系进行了讨论。     

文冠果人工种群的果实发育与落花落果特性研究

以甘肃定西生长的文冠果为对象,探讨了文冠果果实发育特征及落花落果规律。结果表明：（1）文冠果果实生长发育历经约2.5个月,生长发育主要在花期后的40 d内。果实发育特点为：在花期过后的10 d内生长最快,增长率达193%,此后一月仍保持较快的生长速度,月增长率达120%,而最后一月生长比较缓慢,月增长率仅为7%,整个发育期内横径发育速度一直大于纵径;（2）文冠果落花落果主要发生在果实生长发育的初期,且落花落果率高,达94.65%(落花率5.74%,落果率88.91%）,坐果率低,只有5.35%。其落果特点为：落果是一个持续的过程,自花期过后果实膨大到成熟一直在落果,但也存在一个落果的高峰期,即花期过后的10 d内,落果最严重,落果率约达40%。研究认为,从保花保果的角度考虑,开花末期是文冠果水肥管理的重点时期。但从文冠果开花过于繁茂和可孕花分布过于集中而大量消耗树体和顶花序养分,从而造成严重的落花落果的现实考虑,应在开花末期和幼果期疏花疏果或任其自然落花落果,但均应加强果实发育中后期的水肥管理,从而提高坐果率。     

猕猴桃品种果实性状特征和主成分分析研究

为深入了解猕猴桃不同品种(系)的果实性状与其倍性的相关性,本研究对国家猕猴桃种质资源圃保存的44个栽培品种(系)进行了果实性状分析,结果表明,44个栽培品种(系)的果实性状具有丰富的遗传多样性并且果实重量、果面毛被、果肉颜色和质地、果实维生素C含量、果实后熟天数和软熟果硬度、果实成熟期等与品种(系)倍性呈显著相关。对相关性状采用主成分分析表明,果实成熟时间、果肉质地、果面毛被和果实后熟天数、果肉颜色是区分品种(系)的主要特征。由于品种(系)的倍性与主要性状特征关联,品种(系)按倍性相对聚类,且二倍体品种(系)群和六倍体品种(系)群间无重叠,而四倍体品种(系)群与相邻的二倍体和六倍体品种(系)群均有一定重叠。     

Growth of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in bruised apple (Malus domestica) tissue as influenced by cultivar, date of harvest, and source

Four of five apple cultivars (Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, McIntosh, Macoun, and Melrose) inoculated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 promoted growth of the bacterium in bruised tissue independent of the date of harvest (i.e., degree of apple ripening) or the source of the apple (i.e., tree-picked or dropped fruit). Apple harvest for this study began 4 September 1998 and ended 9 October, with weekly sampling. Throughout this study, freshly picked (<2 days after harvest) McIntosh apples usually prevented the growth of E. coli O157:H7 for 2 days. Growth of E. coli O157:H7 did occur following 6 days of incubation in bruised McIntosh apple tissue. However, the maximum total cell number was approximately 80-fold less than the maximum total cell number recovered from Red Delicious apples. When fruit was stored for 1 month at 4 degrees C prior to inoculation with E. coli O157:H7, all five cultivars supported growth of the bacterium. For each apple cultivar, the pH of bruised tissue was significantly higher and degrees Brix was significantly lower than the pH and degrees Brix of undamaged tissue regardless of the source. In freshly picked apples, changes in the pH did not occur over the harvest season. Bruised Golden Delicious, McIntosh, and Melrose apple tissue pHs were not significantly different (tree-picked or dropped), and the degrees Brix values of McIntosh, Macoun, and Melrose apple tissue were not significantly different. Single-cultivar preparations of cider did not support growth of E. coli, and the cell concentration of inoculated cider declined over an 11-day test period. The rate of decline in E. coli cell concentration in the McIntosh cider was greater than those in the other ciders tested. The findings of this study suggested that the presence of some factor besides, or in addition to, pH inhibited E. coli growth in McIntosh apples.     

Application of N-(9-Acridinyl)maleimide as a Fluorescent Detection Reagent of Cysteine and Related Thiols and Disulfide Compounds on Thin-layer Chromatogram

Fluctuations of pungent principles of hot pepper fruits (capsaicinoid), chlorophylls, carotenoid, and fresh fruit weight in Capsicum annuum var. annuum cv. Karayatsubusa at different growth stages after flowering were examined. Capsaicinoid was first detected 20 days after flowering, and reached maximal level around 40 days after flowering, then later decreased gradually. The capsaicinoid composition did not show any appreciable change throughout the stages after flowering. CAP and DC were the major components in all of the stages examined. By using radioisotopic technique, it was found that the main formation and accumulation sites of capsaicinoid are in the placenta of the fruits.     

大棚红肉火龙果冬春花果生长期与温度的关系

在设施大棚内应用夜间补光、增温、营养等措施,诱导4个品种红肉火龙果Hylocereus polyrhizus植株抽生三个批次冬春花,观测其花果生长期状况,分析红肉火龙果花果生长期与温度的关系。结果表明,温度显著影响火龙果冬春花果生长期,两者之间极显著负相关。三个批次红肉火龙果花果生长期差异明显,棚内温度越高,花果生长期越短。冬春季花生长与果生长的最低临界温度差异较大,分别为9℃和15℃。     

Seasonal patterns of reproductive and vegetative sink activity in early and late maturing peach (Prunus persica) cultivars

Weekly measurements of fruit growth, fruit respiration and shoot extension growth were made in the field on early (June Lady) and late (O'Henry) maturing cultivars of peach ( Prunus persica L. Batsch). The seasonal patterns of fruit growth and respiration for the two cultivars were very similar except that the early maturing cultivar bloomed a few days earlier than the late cultivar and had a shorter intermediate stage (Stage II) of fruit growth. Maximum rates of fruit respiration per unit weight at 20°C were similar for both cultivars during the first two stages of fruit growth but higher for the early cultivar during the final stage of fruit growth. Maximum fruit growth rates within any particular stage of fruit growth were similar for both cultivars, but the mean fruit weight of the late cultivar was greater at the end of Stage II, because of the extended length of this stage compared to the early cultivar. The final stage of most rapid fruit growth and respiration coincided with the period of most rapid shoot extension growth in the early maturing cultivar but occurred after this period in the late maturing cultivar. Genetic selection for early fruit maturity in peach has apparently had little effect on timing of shoot growth and this may result in increased competition between vegetative and reproductive sinks during peak periods of fruit growth in early maturing cultivars.     

Contents of Sugars, Fruit Acids, Amino Acids and Phenolic Compounds of Apple Fruits i n Relation to their Susceptibility to Botryosphaeria ribis

Five apple cultivars showing different levels of susceptibility to Botryosphaeria ribis were used to study the relationship between susceptibility and contents of sugars, fruit acids, amino acids and phenolic compounds in the fruits at various stages of maturity. Immature fruits of all the cultivars tested were completely resistant until 10 July. The fungus grew better on the yellow-coloured cultivars than the red-coloured cultivars. The low amount of reducing sugars and also the high levels of fruit acids, amino acids and total phenols were found in immature apple fruits, irrespective of cultivar. No consistent differences between the cultivars were recognized with regard to the contents of soluble sugars, fruit acids and phenols in fruit flesh during the maturity of fruits. However, only the levels of total soluble amino acids in fruit flesh and of total phenols in fruit peel at late stage of maturity consistently varied between the cultivars. The dark red-coloured, resistant cultivars Miller spur and Starkrimson showed higher contents of amino acids and phenols in fruit tissues than did the yellow-coloured, susceptible cultivars.     

光皮木瓜果实发育期间主要成分含量的变化

对光皮木瓜果实发育期间主要成分含量的变化进行了分析.结果显示:(1)光皮木瓜果实发育期间,可溶性固形物含量总体呈上升趋势,花后151 d达到最大值14.8%;干物质、粗纤维和多酚含量的变化均呈单峰型,分别于花后95、67和95 d达到峰值(26.49%、14.96%、81.843 1 mg/gDW),并分别于花后165、179和179 d降至最低值(18.3%、6.47%、42.014 6 mg/gDW);黄酮、多糖、齐墩果酸含量均呈逐渐增加趋势,在果实发育后期略有下降,其中多糖和齐墩果酸含量均于花后137 d达到最大值,分别为110.431 2 mg/gDW和10.312 1 mg/gDW,黄酮含量在花后151 d达到最大值3.201 1 mg/gDW.(2)多酚的单果产量在果实发育过程中的变化趋势与多酚含量一致,于花后95 d多酚单果产量达到最高值(5.448 6 g);齐墩果酸、多糖及黄酮的单果产量在果实发育期间逐渐增加,花后165 d多糖的单果产量达到最高值(8.508 1 g),花后179 d黄酮和齐墩果酸的单果产量均达到最高值(0.261 2 g和0.747 4 g).研究表明,花后137 d(8月25日)至151 d(9月8日)木瓜果实青绿,齐墩果酸、多糖、黄酮含量最高,为加工木瓜饮片等的最佳采收期;花后165 d(9月22日)至179 d(10月6日)时,木瓜果实基本转黄,其中齐墩果酸、多糖、黄酮的单果产量最高,且多酚和粗纤维含量最低,是药用有效成分提取和加工果酒、果脯、果醋等木瓜食品的最佳采收期.     

梨贮藏过程中乙烯和钙调素动态及其与贮藏性的关系

对两个梨品种不同成熟期果实贮藏过程中,整个果实以及果皮、果肉、果心的乙烯释放变化及果肉、种子的钙调素(CaM)含量进行测定。结果表明:(1)黄花品种完整果实及不同部位乙烯释放量都高于耐贮藏的湘南品种,且启动乙烯生成和形成乙烯峰值的时间也早于湘南品种;(2)果实不同部位形成峰值的顺序均依次为果心、果肉、果皮;(3)果实呼吸跃变过程中,CaM含量伴随乙烯释放量的上升而升高,乙烯峰值过后,CaM含量下降,果实衰老。     

Low accumulation of chlorogenic acids represses reddening during flesh browning in Japanese peach “Okayama PEH7”

In peaches, fruit flesh browns unattractively after peeling or cutting. A recently developed cultivar, Okayama PEH7, was distinct from other Japanese cultivars, including Okayama PEH8, with respect to its reduced browning potential. Homogenate prepared from Okayama PEH7 flesh had significantly less reddening during the browning reaction. Okayama PEH7 had less soluble phenolic compounds and higher polyphenol oxidase activity than Okayama PEH8. Reduced browning was observed even when phenols prepared from Okayama PEH7 were incubated with crude extract from Okayama PEH8, suggesting that phenols lower the browning potential of Okayama PEH7. In Okayama PEH7, contents of chlorogenic acid and its isomers were about one-tenth compared to Okayama PEH8. Exogenous addition of chlorogenic acid to Okayama PEH7 homogenate increased the browning potential and visibly enhanced reddening. These results indicate that the reduced browning of Okayama PEH7 flesh is due to a defect in chlorogenic acid accumulation.     

单性结实和自花结实柑橘果实发育过程中IAA、ZR和GA3含量的变化

对单性结实的龟井温州蜜柑(以下简称龟井)和自花结实的鄂柑1号橘(以下简称鄂柑1号)果实发育过程中不同部位的IAA、ZR和GA3的含量变化进行了测定。结果表明：(1)两品种果皮IAA含量呈相似的变化趋势,均于果实增大期间出现明显高峰,但鄂柑1号的IAA高峰值显著较高;二者果皮ZR含量动态却相反,增大期间龟井果皮ZR的含量相对较高且趋上升,而鄂柑1号却趋下降;二者果皮GA3含量均于增大期间出现类似的上升过程,之后均趋下降。(2)龟井果肉IAA、ZR和GA3含量前期均较高,此后均明显下降并居较低水平;而鄂柑1号果肉IAA和GA3均于增大期间出现明显的上升且含量明显高于龟井,而ZR含量与龟井一样呈下降趋势,但ZR的含量更低。(3)鄂柑1号种子的IAA、ZR和GA3在花后72d均相对较高,之后急剧回落至相对较低的稳定水平。     

Genetic differences in fruit-set patterns are determined by differences in fruit sink strength and a source : sink threshold for fruit set

Background and Aims

Fruit set in indeterminate plant species largely depends on the balance between source and sink strength. Plants of these species show fluctuations in fruit set during the growing season. It was tested whether differences in fruit sink strength among the cultivars explained the differences in fruit-set patterns.

Methods

Capsicum was chosen as a model plant. Six cultivars with differences in fruit set, fruit size and plant growth were evaluated in a greenhouse experiment. Fruit-set patterns, generative and vegetative sink strength, source strength and the source : sink ratio at fruit set were determined. Sink strength was quantified as potential growth rate. Fruit set was related to total fruit sink strength and the source : sink ratio. The effect of differences observed in above-mentioned parameters on fruit-set patterns was examined using a simple simulation model.

Key Results

Sink strengths of individual fruits differed greatly among cultivars. Week-to-week fruit set in large-fruited cultivars fluctuated due to large fluctuations in total fruit sink strength, but in small-fruited cultivars, total fruit sink strength and fruit set were relatively constant. Large variations in week-to-week fruit set were correlated with a low fruit-set percentage. The source : sink threshold for fruit set was higher in large-fruited cultivars. Simulations showed that within the range of parameter values found in the experiment, fruit sink strength and source : sink threshold for fruit set had the largest impact on fruit set: an increase in these parameters decreased the average percentage fruit set and increased variation in weekly fruit set. Both were needed to explain the fruit-set patterns observed. The differences observed in the other parameters (e.g. source strength) had a lower effect on fruit set.

Conclusions

Both individual fruit sink strength and the source : sink threshold for fruit set were needed to explain the differences observed between fruit-set patterns of the six cultivars.     

Comparative Analysis of SSR Markers Developed in Exon,Intron, and Intergenic Regions and Distributed in Regions Controlling Fruit Quality Traits in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prunus</Emphasis> Species: Genetic Diversity and Association Studies

Simple sequence repeats (SSRs) are genome domains located in both coding and non-coding regions in eukaryotic genomes. Although SSRs are often characterized by low polymorphism, their DNA-flanking sequences could be a useful source of DNA markers, which could help in genetic studies and breeding because they are associated with genes that control traits of interest. In this study, 56 genotypes from different Prunus species were used, including peach, apricot, plum, and almond (already phenotyped for several agronomical traits, including self-compatibility, flowering and ripening time, fruit type, skin and flesh color, and shell hardness). These Prunus genotypes were molecularly characterized using 28 SSR markers developed in exons, introns, and intergenic regions. All these genes were located in specific regions where quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for certain fruit quality traits were also located, including flowering and ripening times and fruit flesh and skin color. A sum of 309 SSR alleles were identified in the whole panel of analyzed cultivars, with expected heterozygosity values of 0.61 (upstream SSRs), 0.17 (exonic SSRs), 0.65 (intronic SSRs), and 0.58 (downstream SSRs). These values prove the low level of polymorphism of the exonic (gene-coding regions) markers. Cluster and structural analysis based on SSR data clearly differentiated the genotypes according to either specie (for the four species) and pedigree (apricot) or geographic origin (Japanese plum). In addition, some SSR markers mainly developed in intergenic regions could be associated with genes that control traits of interest in breeding and could therefore help in marker-assisted breeding. These findings highlight the importance of using molecular markers able to discriminate between the functional roles of the gene allelic variants.     

Role of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase in organic acid accumulation during peach fruit development

The synthesis of organic acids was studied during fruit development of two peach ( Prunus persica L. Batsch) cultivars, Fantasia and Jalousia, having fruits with high and low organic acid content, respectively. The malate content was higher in cv. Fantasia than in cv. Jalousia at the end of the first rapid growth stage (50 days after bloom [DAB]). Malate and citrate contents were higher in Fantasia than in Jalousia during the second rapid growth stage (from 100 DAB to maturity). The expression of phospho enol pyruvate carboxylase (PEPC, EC 4.1.1.31), which is involved in organic acid synthesis, was studied during peach fruit development. PEPC mRNA levels, and protein levels on a total soluble protein basis, peaked at 23 and 108 DAB in Fantasia. In Jalousia, they were very low at 23 DAB and reached levels similar to Fantasia at 108 DAB. For both cultivars, in vitro PEPC activity expressed on a dry weight basis was maximal at 24 DAB, decreased from 24 to 60 DAB, and then remained constant. The activity of peach fruit PEPC appeared extremely sensitive to malate (I_0.5 of 100 μ M for Fantasia and 65 μ M for Jalousia at pH 7.3) and low pH. PEPC may participate in the control of organic acid accumulation during fruit development in the normal-acid fruit of Fantasia. However, mechanisms other than organic acid synthesis might account for the differences in acidity between normal-acid and non-acid peach fruit.     

Endogenous polyamines in apple and their relationship to fruit set and fruit growth

The distribution of free and bound polyamines was investigated from blooming until harvest on flower, fruitlets and fruits of Malus domestica Borkh cv. Golden Delicious, Relationships between polyamines and fruit set and growth were also investigated. The level of free polyamines was high only during the first weeks after full bloom and then decreased gradually. The amount of bound trichloroacetic acid-insoluble polyamines was much higher than free polyamines. Bound spermine in particular showed a high value for almost 40 days after full bloom, while spermidine and putrescine were no longer detectable even a few days after full bloom.
In relation to fruit set, it was possible to observe that abscission peaks took place when free polyamine levels were low or decreasing. Insofar as fruit growth is concerned, the most substantial variations in polyamine levels occurred very early in the season when fruit dry weight and protein amount were also changing rapidly and fruit diameter was almost impossible to measure.