Carotenoid changes in the peel of ripening persimmon (Diospyros kaki) cv Triumph

The changes of the carotenoid pigments in the peel of ripening persimmon (Diospyros kaki) cv Triumph were followed for an entire season. During ripening, the total carotenoid decreased until colour break, then increased gradually and drastically at the last ripening stages. The chloroplast carotenoid pattern of the unripe fruit changed into a chromoplast pattern in which cryptoxanthin was the predominant pigment, reaching a level between 40 and 50% of the total carotenoids. It accumulated continuously at a rate of approximately 10% at each 2 week interval, its percentage being characteristic for each ripening stage. Other major pigments at levels of approximately 10% of the total carotenoids were zeaxanthin, antheraxanthin and violaxanthin. In the fully ripe fruit, ripened both on and off the tree, lycopene which was not present before was found as the second major pigment. This unusual pattern change is discussed.     

果实成熟过程中组织超微结构的变化

依据电镜下观察的果实成熟期间果肉组织结构的变化状态,综合论述了果实成熟过程中,果肉细胞、细胞壁构造、亚细胞结构及细胞间隙的变化,揭示了果实构造的变化与成熟衰老的密切关系。     

香蕉果实成熟软化时果皮和果肉中α-L-阿拉伯呋喃糖苷酶活性的变化

阿拉伯糖是果实软化过程中变化最明显的细胞壁糖残基之一,α-L-阿拉伯呋喃糖苷酶是导致细胞壁多糖中阿拉伯糖残基降解的主要糖苷酶。为阐明该酶在香蕉果实成熟软化中的作用,实验对香蕉贮藏过程中果皮和果肉中该酶活性以及果实硬度、呼吸强度和乙烯释放量的变化进行了研究。结果表明:α-L-阿拉伯呋喃糖苷酶在果实初期的变化很小,到果实硬度开始急剧下降时达到最大,增加量达10倍以上,且果肉中的酶活性大于果皮中;乙烯吸收剂处理延缓了香蕉果实呼吸和乙烯高峰的出现时间,降低了果实硬度、果皮和果肉中α-L-阿拉伯呋喃糖苷酶活性变化的速度和幅度。以上结果表明α-L-阿拉伯呋喃糖苷酶起诱导香蕉果实成熟的作用,在果实的软化中起着十分重要的作用,且其活性受乙烯的调节。     

香蕉果实成熟软化过程中β-D-木聚糖苷酶活性变化

β-D-木聚糖苷酶是细胞壁半纤维素中阿拉伯木聚糖和木聚糖残基降解的主要酶,对香蕉贮藏过程中果皮、果肉中β-D-木聚糖苷酶活性以及果实硬度、呼吸强度和乙烯释放量的变化进行测定分析。结果显示:β-D-木聚糖苷酶活性在果实贮藏初期的变化很小,到果实硬度开始急剧下降时迅速增加,其增加量在果皮和果肉中分别为12和22倍以上,且果肉中的酶活性大于果皮中;乙烯吸收剂处理延缓了香蕉果实呼吸和乙烯的高峰出现以及果实硬度、果肉和果皮中β-D-木聚糖苷酶活性变化的速度和幅度,但并不改变其活性的变化趋势。结果证明,β-D-木聚糖苷酶能诱导香蕉果实成熟,在果实软化中起着十分重要的作用,且其活性受乙烯的调节。     

Calcium in plant senescence and fruit ripening

Abstract. Calcium has long been associated with regulation of the ripening process of fruit and post-harvest storage life. Specifically, maintenance of relatively high calcium concentrations in fruit tissue results in a slower rate of ripening, as seen in lower respiration rates, reduced ethylene production, and slower softening of fruit flesh. There are also some specific fruit disorders such as bitter pit, which can be prevented if sufficient calcium is present. Senescence of other plant tissues such as leaves and flowers has also been shown to be retarded by the application of calcium.
Work leading to the above information is reviewed and discussed in the context of what is currently known of cellular regulation of calcium in plants. The major sites for the action of calcium in senescence and ripening are suggested to be in membrane structure and function, and in cell wall structure. Although high external concentrations of calcium are an advantage in reducing the rate of senescence or ripening, it is emphasized that normal cell function requires the maintenance of low concentrations of free calcium in the cell cytosol. It is suggested that one possible feature of senescence is a breakdown in such cellular regulation.     

Identification of mRNAs with enhanced expression in ripening strawberry fruit using polymerase chain reaction differential display

Fruit ripening is a complex developmental process that involves specific changes in gene expression and cellular metabolism. In climateric fruits these events are coordinated by the gaseous hormone ethylene, which is synthesized autocatalytically in the early stages of ripening. Nonclimacteric fruits do not synthesize or respond to ethylene in this manner, yet undergo many of the same physiological and biochemical changes associated with the production of a ripe fruit. To gain insight into the molecular determinants associated with nonclimacteric fruit ripening, we examined mRNA populations in ripening strawberry fruit using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) differential display. Five mRNAs with ripening-enhanced expression were identified using this approach. Three of the mRNAs appear to be fruit-specific, with little or no expression detected in vegetative tissues. Sequence analysis of cDNA clones revealed positive identities for three of the five mRNAs based on homology to known proteins. These results indicate that the differential display technique can be a useful tool to study fruit ripening and other developmental processes in plants at the RNA level.     

香蕉果实成熟相关基因研究进展(综述)

本文从乙烯生物合成、呼吸作用、碳水化合物代谢、细胞壁降解及其它有关成熟的代谢过程等方面,概述与香蕉果实成熟相关的基因研究进展。     

脱落酸、胁迫、成熟诱导基因研究进展

近年来从植物中发现了越来越多的受脱落酸、胁迫、成熟诱导表达的基因,这些 ASR(Abscisic acid, Stress and Ripening inducible)基因参与植物对冷、渗透压、脱落酸处理的胁迫应答已被证实,该类基因也参与植物生命活动的许多方面如果实发育、成熟等．对 ASR 基因的克隆鉴定,以及该基因在胁迫应答和果实成熟方面的作用进行了综述．     

A role for jasmonates in climacteric fruit ripening

Jasmonates are a class of oxylipins that induce a wide variety of higher-plant responses. To determine if jasmonates play a role in the regulation of climacteric fruit ripening, the effects of exogenous jasmonates on ethylene biosynthesis and color, as well as the endogenous concentrations of jasmonates were determined during the onset of ripening of apple (Malus domestica Borkh. cv. Golden Delicious) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Cobra) fruit. Transient (12 h) treatment of pre-climacteric fruit discs with exogenous jasmonates at low concentration (1 or 10 μM) promoted ethylene biosynthesis and color change in a concentration-dependent fashion. Activities of both 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) oxidase and ACC synthase were stimulated by jasmonate treatments in this concentration range. The endogenous concentration of jasmonates increased transiently prior to the climacteric increase in ethylene biosynthesis during the onset of ripening of both apple and tomato fruit. The onset of tomato fruit ripening was also preceded by an increase in the percentage of the cis-isomer of jasmonic acid. Inhibition of ethylene action by diazocyclopentadiene negated the jasmonate-induced stimulation of ethylene biosynthesis, indicating jasmonates act at least in part via ethylene action. These results suggest jasmonates may play a role together with ethylene in regulating the early steps of climacteric fruit ripening. Received: 14 August 1997 / Accepted: 4 October 1997     

Role of polyamines and ethylene as modulators of plant senescence

Under optimal conditions of growth, senescence, a terminal phase of development, sets in after a certain physiological age. It is a dynamic and closely regulated developmental process which involves an array of changes at both physiological and biochemical levels including gene expression. A large number of biotic and abiotic factors accelerate the process. Convincing evidence suggests the involvement of polyamines (PAs) and ethylene in this process. Although the biosynthetic pathways of both PAs and ethylene are interrelated, S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) being a common precursor, their physiological functions are distinct and at times antagonistic, particularly during leaf and flower senescence and also during fruit ripening. This provides an effective means for regulation of their biosynthesis and also to understand the mechanism by which the balance between the two can be established for manipulating the senescence process. The present article deals with current advances in the knowledge of the interrelationship between ethylene and PAs during senescence which may open up new vistas of investigation for the future.     

番茄果实成熟过程中钙调素含量变化及其与乙烯生成的关系

应用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)测定番茄(Lycopersicon esculentum Mill大红品种)果实成熟过程中钙调素(CaM)含量的变化。果实开始成熟(发白期),CaM含量随着呼吸跃变上升,成熟时(粉红期)达到最大,过熟衰老时则下降。果实内部乙烯浓度、ACC含量及其合成酶活性也随跃变而增加,随过熟衰老而降低。GaM含量在果实不同部位中的分布有明显差异,跃变上升期以子房腔组织含量最高,并由中心向外逐渐降低,外周果皮含量最低。此时用外源乙烯催熟处理促进各部位CaM增加。成熟衰老时子房腔组织首先衰老,CaM含量大为降低,但在中柱和果皮中却高于跃变上升期。外源乙烯促进衰老使CaM下降。Ca~(2+)促进番茄圆片CaM含量增高和乙烯产生,CaM抑制剂CPZ,TFP在降低CaM含量的同时也抑制乙烯的产生。     

Hormonal regulation of ripening in the strawberry,a non-climacteric fruit

Anthocyanin accumulation is one measure of ripening in the strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.), a non-climacteric fruit. Neither aminoethoxyvinylglycine, an inhibitor of 1-aminocyclopropane carboxylic acid synthase, nor inhibitors of ethylene action (silver, norbornadiene) affected anthocyanin accumulation in ripening fruit. When the achenes were removed from one half of an unripe fruit there was an accelerated accumulation of anthocyanin and induction of phenylalanine ammonia lyase on the de-achened portion of the ripening fruit. These effects of achene removal could be prevented by the application of the synthetic auxins 1-naphthaleneacetic acid or 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid to the de-achened surface. The introduction of 1-naphthalene acetic acid into intact unripe strawberry fruit through the peduncle delayed their subsequent ripening, as measured by the accumulation of anthocyanin, loss of chlorophyll and decrease in firmness. These findings suggest that the decline in the concentration of auxin in the achenes as strawberry fruit mature modulates the rate of fruit ripening.Abbreviations ACC 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid - AVG aminoethoxyvinylglycine - NAA 1-naphthaleneacetic acid - PA1 phenylalanine ammonia-lyase - POA phenoxyacetic acid - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid