Pericarp histogenesis and histochemistry during fruit development in Butia capitata (Arecaceae)

Palm fruits show great structural complexity, and in-depth studies of their development are still scarce. This work aimed to define the developmental stages of the fruit of the neotropical palm Butia capitata and to characterize the ontogenesis of its pericarp. Biometric, anatomical, and histochemical evaluations were performed on pistillate flowers and developing fruits. The whole fruit develops in three phases: (I) histogenesis (up to 42 days after anthesis – DAA), when the topographic regions of the pericarp are defined; (II) pyrene maturation (42 to 70 DAA), when the sclerified zone of the pericarp is established; and (III) mesocarp maturation (70 to 84 DAA), when reserve deposition is completed. During pericarp ontogenesis (i) the outer epidermis and the outer mesophyll of the ovary give origin to the exocarp (secretory epidermis, collenchyma, parenchyma, sclerenchyma, and vascular bundles); (ii) the median ovarian mesophyll develops into the mesocarp, with two distinct topographical regions; (iii) the inner ovarian epidermis originates the endocarp; and in the micropylar region, it differentiates into the germination pore plate, a structure that protects the embryo and controls germination. (iv) Most of the inner region of the mesocarp fuses with the endocarp and, both lignified, give rise to the stony pyrene; (v) in the other regions of the mesocarp, carbohydrates and lipids are accumulated in a parenchyma permeated with fiber and vascular bundles. The development of the B. capitata pericarp presents high complexity and a pattern not yet reported for Arecaceae, which supports the adoption of the Butia-type pyrenarium fruit class.

     

龙眼果皮形态结构比较观察及其与果实耐贮运的关系

比较了福建省 1 0个主栽龙眼品种果实的果皮形态和结构 ,结果表明 :不同品种在果皮厚度、外果皮表面颜色、龟状纹、放射线、瘤状突、刺毛、外果皮皮孔、周皮层厚度、栓质层厚度和连续性、中果皮薄壁组织细胞排列、石细胞大小、含量、排列和分布 ,维管束发达状况、排列和分布 ,内果皮表皮细胞排列和角蜡质层厚度等方面均存在着明显差异。风梨味、东壁、油潭本、乌龙岭、红核子、蕉眼龙眼果皮厚 ,外果皮表面瘤状突和剌毛多 ,外果皮周皮层、栓质层厚且连续性好 ,中果皮石细胞 (团 )含量多且排列紧密 ,分布在中果皮外侧且在中果皮中所占比例大 ,维管束发达且排列有序 ,内果皮角蜡质层厚 ;这些品种果实耐贮运、抗病性强。而水涨、赤壳、福眼、普明庵龙眼果皮薄 ,外果皮周皮层薄、栓质层不发达 ,中果皮石细胞 (团 )含量少、分布分散 ,维管束不发达 ,薄壁组织细胞胞间隙大 ,皮孔间隙大、皮孔通道与中果皮组织细胞间隙相通 ;这些品种的果实不耐贮运、抗病性弱。讨论了龙眼外果皮表面主色为褐色和内果皮比外果皮更容易褐变的解剖学原因及龙眼果皮形态结构与果实耐贮运的关系。     

Pericarp development and fruit structure in borassoid palms (Arecaceae-Coryphoideae-Borasseae)

Background and Aims

The Borasseae form a highly supported monophyletic clade in the Arecaceae–Coryphoideae. The fruits of Coryphoideae are small, drupaceous with specialized anatomical structure of the pericarp and berries. The large fruits of borassoid palms contain massive pyrenes, which develop from the middle zone of the mesocarp. The pericarp structure and mode of its development in Borasseae are similar to those of Eugeissona and Nypa. A developmental carpological study of borassoid palms will allow us to describe the process of pericarp development and reveal the diagnostic fruit features of borassoid palms, determine the morphogenetic fruit type in Borasseae genera, and describe similarities in fruit structure and pericarp development with other groups of palms.

Methods

The pericarp anatomy was studied during development with light microscopy based on the anatomical sections of fruits of all eight Borasseae genera.

Key Results

The following general features of pericarp structure in Borasseae were revealed: (1) differentiation of the pericarp starts at early developmental stages; (2) the exocarp is represented by a specialized epidermis; (3) the mesocarp is extremely multilayered and is differentiated into several topographical zones – a peripheral parenchymatous zone(s) with scattered sclerenchymatous elements and vascular bundles, a middle zone (the stony pyrene comprising networks of elongated sclereids and vascular bundles) and an inner parenchymatous zone(s); (4) differentiation and growth of the pyrene tissue starts at early developmental stages and ends long before maturation of the seed; (5) the inner parenchymatous zone(s) of the mesocarp is dramatically compressed by the mature seed; (6) the endocarp (unspecialized epidermis) is not involved in pyrene formation; and (7) the spermoderm is multilayered in Hyphaeninae and obliterated in Lataniinae.

Conclusions

The fruits of Borasseae are pyrenaria of Latania-type. This type of pericarp differentiation is also found only in Eugeissona and Nypa. The fruits of other Coryphoideae dramatically differ from Borasseae by the pericarp anatomical structure and the mode of its development.     

Tomato fruit continues growing while ripening,affecting cuticle properties and cracking

Fruit cuticle composition and their mechanical performance have a special role during ripening because internal pressure is no longer sustained by the degraded cell walls of the pericarp but is directly transmitted to epidermis and cuticle which could eventually crack. We have studied fruit growth, cuticle modifications and its biomechanics, and fruit cracking in tomato; tomato has been considered a model system for studying fleshy fruit growth and ripening. Tomato fruit cracking is a major disorder that causes severe economic losses and, in cherry tomato, crack appearance is limited to the ripening process. As environmental conditions play a crucial role in fruit growing, ripening and cracking, we grow two cherry tomato cultivars in four conditions of radiation and relative humidity (RH). High RH and low radiation decreased the amount of cuticle and cuticle components accumulated. No effect of RH in cuticle biomechanics was detected. However, cracked fruits had a significantly less deformable (lower maximum strain) cuticle than non‐cracked fruits. A significant and continuous fruit growth from mature green to overripe has been detected with special displacement sensors. This growth rate varied among genotypes, with cracking‐sensitive genotypes showing higher growth rates than cracking‐resistant ones. Environmental conditions modified this growth rate during ripening, with higher growing rates under high RH and radiation. These conditions corresponded to those that favored fruit cracking. Fruit growth rate during ripening, probably sustained by an internal turgor pressure, is a key parameter in fruit cracking, because fruits that ripened detached from the vine did not crack.     

A multilevel analysis of fruit growth of two tomato cultivars in response to fruit temperature

Fruit phenotype is a resultant of inherent genetic potential in interaction with impact of environment experienced during crop and fruit growth. The aim of this study was to analyze the genetic and physiological basis for the difference in fruit size between a small (‘Brioso’) and intermediate (‘Cappricia’) sized tomato cultivar exposed to different fruit temperatures. It was hypothesized that fruit heating enhances expression of cell cycle and expansion genes, rates of carbon import, cell division and expansion, and shortens growth duration, whereas increase in cell number intensifies competition for assimilates among cells. Unlike previous studies in which whole‐plant and fruit responses cannot be separated, we investigated the temperature response by varying fruit temperature using climate‐controlled cuvettes, while keeping plant temperature the same. Fruit phenotype was assessed at different levels of aggregation (whole fruit, cell and gene) between anthesis and breaker stage. We showed that: (1) final fruit fresh weight was larger in ‘Cappricia’ owing to more and larger pericarp cells, (2) heated fruits were smaller because their mesocarp cells were smaller than those of control fruits and (3) no significant differences in pericarp carbohydrate concentration were detected between heated and control fruits nor between cultivars at breaker stage. At the gene level, expression of cell division promoters (CDKB2, CycA1 and E2Fe‐like) was higher while that of the inhibitory fw2.2 was lower in ‘Cappricia’. Fruit heating increased expression of fw2.2 and three cell division promoters (CDKB1, CDKB2 and CycA1). Expression of cell expansion genes did not corroborate cell size observations.     

Pericarp formation in early divergent species of Arecaceae (Calamoideae,Mauritiinae) and its ecological and phylogenetic importance

Lepidocaryum tenue, Mauritia flexuosa and Mauritiella armata belong to the subtribe Mauritiinae, one early divergent lineage of the Arecaceae and one of the few of Calamoideae that occur in South America. These species occur in swampy environments and have fruits that are characteristically covered with scales. The objective of this study was to describe the formation of the layers of the pericarp within this subtribe and attempt to correlate fruit structure with the environment where species typically occur. Toward this goal, flowers in pre-anthesis and anthesis and fruits throughout development were analyzed using standard methods for light microscopy. The ontogeny of the layers of the pericarp of all three species was found to be similar. The scales were formed from non-vascularized emergences composed of exocarp and mesocarp. The median mesocarp accumulates lipids only in M. flexuosa and M. armata. The inner mesocarp together with the endocarp becomes papyraceous and tenuous in all species. This internal region of pericarp showed collapsed cells due to seed growth at the end of fruit development. Fruits of Mauritiinae are baccate, and the characters of the pericarp, especially the inner mesocarp and endocarp, help to maintain moisture. On the other hand, many species close to Mauritiinae show pericarp with sclerenchyma adjacent to the seed. This variation can contribute to understand the importance of this striking character in dispersal, germination and colonization in Arecaceae.     

Relationship of changes in the fatty acid compositions and fruit softening in peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch)

Fatty acid compositions of peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch) mesocarp tissues from ‘Kawanakajima Hakuto’ and its firm-fleshed mutant ‘Shuangjiuhong’ were examined by gas chromatography during the developmental stages from 20 days before to 20 days after fruit ripening. Fruits were harvested at 4-day intervals from July to September. The predominant fatty acids were linoleic, palmitic and linolenic acids with 27.66–48.93 %, 23.59–31.65 %, and 12.08–28.35 % in ‘Shuangjiuhong’, and 32.64–42.79 %, 23.53–28.95 %, 16.14–39.15 % in ‘Kawanakajima Hakuto’, respectively. Saturated fatty acids (palmitic and stearic acids) remained relatively constant throughout the ripeness period. On the contrast, from 15 days before ripening, notable decline in oleic acid and increase of linoleic and linolenic acids were observed in both cultivars. In addition, from 10 days before ripening, much lower levels of oleic and linolenic acids and higher proportion of linoleic acid were observed in ‘Shuangjiuhong’ than those found in ‘Kawanakajima Hakuto’. And notably higher SFA level, lower levels of UFA and IUFA in the firm-fleshed peach were investigated during those stages. Correlation analysis showed that oleic acid and SFA had very significantly positive, whereas linolenic acid, UFA and IUFA had significantly negative correlation with fruit firmness. These results above suggest that lower levels of oleic and linolenic acids, UFA and IUFA, and higher linoleic acid and SFA content represent fruits with firmer flesh and help to retain the fruit texture.     

谷氨酸和TDZ对荔枝果皮着色及果实品质的影响

为提前或延迟果实的成熟,改善果实品质,以荔枝(Litchi chinensis Sonn.)早熟品种‘三月红’和‘水东’为试验材料,在盛花后50 d用谷氨酸(Glu)和TDZ(Thidiazuron)进行处理,研究Glu和TDZ对果皮着色和果实品质的影响。结果表明,Glu能促进果皮转红,500~1500 mg L-1范围内随浓度增加果皮红色面积加大,果皮的花青苷含量增加。1500 mg L-1Glu处理的‘三月红’‘、水东’果皮花青苷含量分别达到8.62 U g-1、11.53 U g-1,分别比对照高出1.33、1.25倍。同时,Glu处理能促进‘三月红’总糖的积累,但对两品种果实大小和质量的影响不大。TDZ显著迟滞果实着色,果实转红延后,果皮花青苷含量降低。5.0 mg L-1TDZ处理的‘三月红’‘、水东’果皮花青苷仅为1.23和3.4 U g-1,显著低于对照。TDZ处理两品种果实的可溶性固形物、总糖含量均下降,但果实大小和质量均增加。因此,Glu能促进荔枝果实转色成熟,TDZ则抑制果实转色。     

Differential expression of litchi XET genes in relation to fruit growth

Xyloglucan endotransglycosylase (XET) catalyses the transglycosylation of xyloglucan, the major hemicellulose polymer, which has been thought to mediate the cross-linking of cellulose microfibrils in cellular walls and proposed to be involved in the control of cell wall relaxation. To understand the relationship between litchi fruit cracking and gene expression patterns, three XET genes from litchi fruit were identified and then examined for their expression profiles in pericarp and aril tissues at different development stages, using a cracking-resistant cultivar, 'Huaizhi', and a cracking-susceptible cultivar, 'Nuomici'. Three full-length cDNAs of 1267, 1095 and 1156 bp encoding XETs, named LcXET1, LcXET2 and LcXET3, respectively, were isolated from expanding fruit using RT-PCR and RACE-PCR (rapid amplification of cDNA ends) methods. Northern blotting analysis showed that LcXET1 mRNA accumulation occurred much earlier in aril tissues at 59 days after anthesis (DAA) than in pericarp tissues at 73 DAA in 'Nuomici'. However, it appeared at almost the same time (66 DAA) in pericarp and aril tissues in 'Huaizhi', which suggested that differential accumulation of LcXET1 in pericarp and aril tissues in 'Nuomici' and 'Huaizhi' was closely associated with fruit cracking. LcXET2 mRNA accumulation could be detected in pericarp and aril tissues throughout fruit development but exhibited a differential accumulation pattern between pericarp and aril tissues. In the aril of 'Nuomici', intensive signal bands were detectable at 59-73 DAA in rapidly expanding fruits of 'Nuomici' but only weak bands could be found in the pericarp tissues. In contrast, moderate signal bands were detectable both in pericarp and aril tissues of 'Huaizhi' fruits. Furthermore, LcXET3 showed constitutive expression in both pericarp and aril tissues of developing 'Nuomici' and 'Huaizhi' litchi fruit. In addition, differential expression patterns of three XETs genes were observed in different tissues of litchi, with only LcXET1 being fruit-specific. To further address the role of LcXET in fruit cracking, alpha-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) was used to treat 'Nuomoci' to reduce fruit cracking. Enhanced LcXET1 mRNA accumulation appeared in pericarp while LcXET2 and LcXET3 mRNA accumulation enhanced in aril tissues in the NAA-treated fruits. Thus, LcXET1 is more likely to play a role in reducing litchi fruit cracking than LcXET2 and LcXET3.     

Changes in the distribution of cell wall polysaccharides in early fruit pericarp and ovule, from fruit set to early fruit development, in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)

During fruit development in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), cell proliferation and rapid cell expansion occur after pollination. Cell wall synthesis, alteration, and degradation play important roles during early fruit formation, but cell wall composition and the extent of cell wall synthesis/degradation are poorly understood. In this study, we used immunolocalization with a range of specific monoclonal antibodies to examine the changes in cell wall composition during early fruit development in tomato. In exploring early fruit development, the ?1 day post-anthesis (DPA) ovary and fruits at 1, 3, and 5 DPA were sampled. Paraffin sections were prepared for staining and immunolabeling. The 5 DPA fruit showed rapid growth in size and an increase in both methyl-esterified pectin and de-methyl-esterified pectin content in the pericarp, suggesting rapid synthesis and de-methyl esterification of pectin during this growth period. Labeling of pectic arabinan with LM6 antibody and galactan with LM5 antibody revealed abundant amounts of both, with unique distribution patterns in the ovule and premature pericarp. These results suggest the presence of rapid pectin metabolism during the early stages of fruit development and indicate a unique distribution of pectic galactan and arabinan within the ovule, where they may be involved in embryogenesis.     

β-Galactosidase, polygalacturonase and pectinesterase in differential softening and cell wall modification during papaya fruit ripening

Papaya ( Carica papaya L. cv. Eksotika) fruit softens differentially in relation to position of the tissue. The inner mesocarp tissue is softer, and its firmness decreases more rapidly during ripening than that of the outer mesocarp tissue. As the fruit ripens, pectin solubility and depolymerisation increase. Hemicellulose, too, appears to be depolymerised but, unlike pectins, this apparent degradation of hemicellulose is associated with an increase rather than a decrease in its level. Pectin and hemicellulose depolymerisation began in the inner mesocarp tissue at about the same time as β-galactosidase (EC 3.2,1.23) activity started to increase and tissue firmness began to decrease more rapidly. In contrast, pectin solubilisation in both outer and inner mesocarp tissues occurred steadily throughout ripening at a comparable rate and paralleled closely the increase of polygalacturonase (PG; EC 3.2.1.67) and pectinesterase (EC 3.1.1.11). In general, irrespective of enzyme distribution, tissue softening during ripening was more closely related to changes in β-galactosidase activity than to PG or pectinesterase activity. Papaya, β-galactosidase appears to be an important wall degrading enzyme and may contribute significantly to differential softening, perhaps by complementing the action of polygalacturonase. Polygalacturonase activity increased with increasing depth of the mesocarp tissue, as did softening of the fruit.     

Fruit structure of Amborella trichopoda (Amborellaceae)

The indehiscent fruitlets of the apparently basalmost extant angiosperm, Amborella trichopoda, have a pericarp that is differentiated into five zones, a thin one‐cell‐layered skin (exocarp), a thick fleshy zone of 25–35 cell layers (outer mesocarp), a thick, large‐celled sclerenchymatous zone (unlignified) of 6–18 cell layers (middle mesocarp), a single cell layer with thin‐walled (silicified?) cells (inner mesocarp), and a 2–4‐cell‐layered, small‐celled sclerenchymatous zone (unlignified) derived from the inner epidermis (endocarp). The border between inner and outer mesocarp is not even but the inner mesocarp forms a network of ridges and pits; the ridges support the vascular bundles, which are situated in the outer mesocarp. In accordance with previous observations by Bailey & Swamy, no ethereal oil cells were observed in the pericarp; however, lysigenous cavities as mentioned by these authors are also lacking; they seem to be an artefact caused by re‐expanding dried fruits. The seed coat is not sclerified. The fruitlets of Amborella differ from externally similar fruits or fruitlets in other basal angiosperms, such as Austrobaileyales or Laurales, in their histology. © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2005, 148 , 265–274.     

Solute accumulation differs in the vacuoles and apoplast of ripening grape berries

Phloem unloading is thought to switch from a symplastic route to an apoplastic route at the beginning of ripening in grape berries and some other fleshy fruits. However, it is unclear whether different solutes accumulate in both the mesocarp vacuoles and the apoplast. We modified a method developed for tomato fruit to extract apoplastic sap from grape berries and measured the changes in apoplastic and vacuolar pH, soluble sugars, organic acids, and potassium in ripening berries of Vitis vinifera ‘Merlot’ and V. labruscana ‘Concord’. Solute accumulation varied by genotype, compartment, and chemical species. The apoplast pH was substantially higher than the vacuolar pH, especially in Merlot (approximately two units). However, the vacuole–apoplast proton gradient declined during ripening and in Merlot, but not in Concord, collapsed entirely at maturity. Hexoses accumulated in both the vacuoles and apoplast but at different rates. Organic acids, especially malate, declined much more in the vacuoles than in the apoplast. Potassium accumulated in the vacuoles and apoplast of Merlot. In Concord, by contrast, potassium increased in the vacuoles but decreased in the apoplast. These results suggest that solutes in the fruit apoplast are tightly regulated and under developmental control.     

Comparative analysis of the structure,suberin and wax composition and key gene expression in the epidermis of ‘Dangshansuli’ pear and its russet mutant

Mature fruit of ‘Dangshansuli’ pear has yellow-green skin, while its mutant ‘Xiusu’ has russet fruit skin, which is a genetic variation. To explore the mechanism underlying the russet formation, the fruit spot and epidermal structure were observed, the color, texture, and wax and suberin components were evaluated, and the gene expression levels were confirmed. In the present study, the color, texture and fruit spot of the epidermis differed significantly between ‘Dangshansuli’ and ‘Xiusu’ at 25 days after full bloom (DAFB). The cuticular wax components were alkanes, olefins, alkanoic acids, alcohols and terpenes, and the suberin was composed of fatty acid, α,ω-diacids, ω-hydroxy fatty acids, mainly ferulic acid and primary alcohols in the epidermis of ‘Dangshansuli’ and ‘Xiusu’, which exhibited significant differences at most stages of the development of pear fruits. Moreover, the expression levels of genes involved in wax and suberin were consistent with morphological and biochemical analyses. The results indicated that the suberization of epidermal cells occurred when pear fruit was young and that wax and suberin might contribute to the russet formation on the epidermis of ‘Xiusu’, leading to the significant differences in color, texture, fruit spot, and exocarp structure between ‘Dangshansuli’ and ‘Xiusu’ pears.     

Extensibility of pericarp tissue in growing citrus fruits

The tensile force existing in the pericarp of a growing citrus (Citrus sinensis) fruit 17 to 19 centimeters in circumference was sufficiently high to cause a 3% shrinkage of the pericarp when it was excised. When a fruit was cut along the equator to the central axis, shrinkage of the pericarp resulted in the formation of a wedge-shaped gap at the cut. Stretch modulus of the pericarp was determined by measuring the force required to stretch excised strips of tissue to 1% longer than their excised length. Measurements were made on successive layers of pericarp tissue 5 millimeters wide and 1 millimeter thick taken from the fruit equator. All layers required more force for extension at lower temperatures and high water potentials than at high temperatures and low water potentials. The stretch modulus ranged from 0.88 to 2.16 kilograms per square millimeter depending upon the layer, temperature, and water potential. The inner layers, consisting primarily of mesocarp, had stretch moduli only 60 to 70% as great as the outer layer which consisted of exocarp tissue. Measurements of the stretch modulus of tissues from the pericarp support the hypothesis that changes in the tension existing in the pericarp depend upon conditions in the pericarp and are not related to changes in volume or pressure in the juice vesicles.     

裂果易发性不同的荔枝品种果皮中细胞壁代谢酶活性的比较

“糯米糍”荔枝裂果率极显著高于“淮枝”,前者果皮中的果胶酶、纤维素酶和果胶甲酯酶的活性高于后者,其中以果胶酶活性差异最明显,其次是纤维素酶,果胶甲酯酶差异最小;“糯米糍”细胞壁结合型的过氧化物酶(POD)和多酚氧化酶(PP0)活性明显高于“淮枝”,而水溶性POD和PP0的活性则两个品种间无明显差异。据此认为,果皮细胞壁水解酶活性以及细胞壁结合型的POD和PPO的活性高的荔枝品种,其裂果率也高。文章对细胞壁代谢相关酶类在果皮抗裂性形成中的作用进行了讨论。     

Products Released from Enzymically Active Cell Wall Stimulate Ethylene Production and Ripening in Preclimacteric Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) Fruit

Enzymically active cell wall from ripe tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) fruit pericarp release uronic acids through the action of wall-bound polygalacturonase. The potential involvement of products of wall hydrolysis in the induction of ethylene synthesis during tomato ripening was investigated by vacuum infiltrating preclimacteric (green) fruit with solutions containing pectin fragments enzymically released from cell wall from ripe fruit. Ripening initiation was accelerated in pectin-infiltrated fruit compared to control (buffer-infiltrated) fruit as measured by initiation of climacteric CO₂ and ethylene production and appearance of red color. The response to infiltration was maximum at a concentration of 25 micrograms pectin per fruit; higher concentrations (up to 125 micrograms per fruit) had no additional effect. When products released from isolated cell wall from ripe pericarp were separated on Bio-Gel P-2 and specific size classes infiltrated into preclimacteric fruit, ripening-promotive activity was found only in the larger (degree of polymerization >8) fragments. Products released from pectin derived from preclimacteric pericarp upon treatment with polygalacturonase from ripe pericarp did not stimulate ripening when infiltrated into preclimacteric fruit.     

Development and structure of the pericarp of Lannea discolor (Sonder) Engl.(Anacardiaceae)

Development and structure of the pericarp of Lannea discolor (Sonder) Engl.(Anacardiaceae). The exocarp develops from the outer epidermis and subepidermal, parenchymatous cell layers of the ovary wall. A parenchymatous zone with secretory cavities more or less delimits the exocarp internally. The inner part of the parenchymatous mesocarp is tanniniferous. The parenchymatous transition zone between mesocarp and sclercnchymatous endocarp or sderocarp, contains vascular tissue. The inner endocarp and operculum develop from the inner epidermis and subepidermal parenchyma of the ovary wall, while the outer endocarp develops from the parenchymatous zone with procambium strandS. Comparing the pericarp of L.discolor with those of Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra and Rhus lancea , the close affinity with Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra is evident.     

Specific Changes of Exocarp and Mesocarp Occurring during Softening Differently Affect Firmness in Melting (MF) and Non Melting Flesh (NMF) Fruits

Melting (MF) and non melting flesh (NMF) peaches differ in their final texture and firmness. Their specific characteristics are achieved by softening process and directly dictate fruit shelf life and quality. Softening is influenced by various mechanisms including cell wall reorganization and water loss. In this work, the biomechanical properties of MF Spring Crest’s and NMF Oro A’s exocarp and mesocarp along with the amount and localization of hydroxycinnamic acids and flavonoids were investigated during fruit ripening and post-harvest. The objective was to better understand the role played by water loss and cell wall reorganization in peach softening. Results showed that in ripe Spring Crest, where both cell turgor loss and cell wall dismantling occurred, mesocarp had a little role in the fruit reaction to compression and probe penetration response was almost exclusively ascribed to the epidermis which functioned as a mechanical support to the pulp. In ripe Oro A’s fruit, where cell wall disassembly did not occur and the loss of cell turgor was observed only in mesocarp, the contribution of exocarp to fruit firmness was consistent but relatively lower than that of mesocarp, suggesting that in addition to cell turgor, the integrity of cell wall played a key role in maintaining NMF fruit firmness. The analysis of phenols suggested that permeability and firmness of epidermis were associated with the presence of flavonoids and hydroxycinnamic acids.     

灵武长枣果实发育过程中阿拉伯半乳糖蛋白组织化学分布

为揭示灵武长枣（Ziziphus jujuba ‘Lingwu Changzao’）果实发育过程中阿拉伯半乳糖蛋白（AGPs）的分布规律，以膨大前期、快速膨大期、着色期和完熟期灵武长枣果实为试验材料，通过组织化学和免疫荧光定位的方法，研究了不同发育时期果实AGPs的分布特征。结果显示：βGlcY-AGPs形成的棕红色沉淀和MAC204抗体识别的抗原在各时期果实的外果皮及相邻的内部数层排列紧密的中果皮小细胞的细胞壁和细胞内部均有分布。中果皮大型卵圆形薄壁细胞的细胞壁和细胞内在膨大前期均有βGlcY-AGPs形成的棕红色沉淀和MAC204抗体识别的抗原分布，而在快速膨大期、着色期和完熟期均主要分布于薄壁细胞的细胞壁上，大部分细胞内部无分布；随着果实发育成熟，中果皮薄壁细胞间隙拉大排列更加松散，出现细胞破裂，βGlcY-AGPs形成的棕红色沉淀和MAC204抗体识别的抗原分布逐渐减少。各时期果实维管束中维管束鞘、木质部、韧皮部、形成层的所有细胞的细胞壁和细胞内部都分布有βGlcY-AGPs形成的棕红色沉淀和MAC204抗体识别的抗原，维管束数量和大小随果实发育及体积的进一步增大逐渐减少，βGlcY-AGPs形成的棕红色沉淀和MAC204抗体识别的抗原分布逐渐减少。研究认为，βGlcY和MAC204分别为研究灵武长枣果实AGPs组化定位有效方法和免疫荧光的良好抗体，各时期果实的不同组织βGlcY-AGPs形成的棕红色沉淀和MAC204抗体识别的抗原荧光强弱存在一定的差异；AGPs可能参与了灵武长枣果实维管束发育过程的形态建成；为果实发育提供保护和营养支持及多糖物质积累。