Development of microsatellite markers from loquat, Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) is a minor fruit which has become an interesting alternative into the European fruit industry. This interest resulted in a loquat germplasm collection established at the Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias, Valencia, Spain. Currently, it is the main reservoir of this species outside Asia. We developed and characterized the first 21 polymorphic microsatellite loci from a CT/AG-enriched loquat genomic library. The observed heterozygosity ranged between 0.20 and 1.00, expected heterozygosity ranged between 0.17 and 0.81, three markers were multilocus and eight loci departed significantly from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. These markers will facilitate diversity and genetic studies into the species.     

Phenological growth stages of loquat tree (Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.)

Conservation, characterisation and utilisation of minor fruit tree species is an important objective for diversification of agro-food production. One such fruit tree is the loquat, a tree that originated in China but is well adapted to the Mediterranean area. The conservation and utilisation of suitable germplasm requires an accurate characterisation and evaluation of the material. A first step in characterisation is to use phenotypic traits. This paper describes the phenological growth stages of loquat tree using the extended BBCH scale. Seven principal growth stages (PGS) for bud, leaf and shoot development, inflorescence emergence, flowering, fruit development and fruit maturity and 31 secondary growth stages are described and compared with a previous scale based on Fleckinger classical methodology. An example of application of the extended BBCH scale for characterisation of loquat cultivars from IVIA germplasm collection is reported.     

Hypoglycemic effects of a sesquiterpene glycoside isolated from leaves of loquat (Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.).

Sesquiterpene glycoside, nerolidol-3-O-alpha-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->4)-alpha-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)-[alpha-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->6)]-beta-d-glucopyranoside was isolated from dried leaves of loquat [Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl., Rosaceae]. Hypoglycemic effects of this natural product were assessed in normal and alloxan-diabetic mice model. Animals received orally administration of the sesquiterpene glycoside in dose of 25 and 75 mg/kg. The anti-hyperglycemic effect was compared with gliclazide's. The dose of 25 and 75 mg/kg both exerted a significant (p<0.05) hypoglycemic effect in alloxan-diabetic mice throughout the test and a slight effect in normal mice.     

枇杷叶片胚性愈伤组织诱导与内源激素含量的关系

为揭示胚性愈伤组织发生过程中内源激素的变化规律,本研究以枇杷叶片为实验材料,通过诱导胚性愈伤组织获得体细胞胚,采用高效液相色谱法测定枇杷叶片及愈伤组织的赤霉素（GA₃）、生长素（IAA）、脱落酸（ABA）和玉米素（ZT）4种内源激素的含量,探讨胚性愈伤组织发育过程中4种内源激素的动态变化。结果显示,不同成熟度叶片内IAA/ZT比值对胚性愈伤组织的发生有正效应,而GA₃/IAA的比值具有负效应。胚性愈伤组织的发生需要较低含量的GA₃及高含量的IAA和ABA,IAA/ZT比值高有利于胚性愈伤组织形成,培养后期及时添加一定量的外源激素有利于胚性保持。本研究可为离体培养时选择外植体、添加外源激素及控制继代时间提供理论指导,并为快速获得枇杷胚性材料、开展基因转化研究奠定基础。     

Proteomics of multigenic families from species underrepresented in databases: the case of loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) polyphenol oxidases

Here, we approach the problem of obtaining accurate and reliable information about the gene origin of a protein belonging to a multigenic family, polyphenol oxidase, from an underrepresented species, Eriobotrya japonica. De novo sequencing was a key approach to obtain broad sequence coverage. Alignment of peptides on their most similar homologous protein revealed divergent amino acid positions that lead to hypothesize the minimal number of genes encoding for the proteins analyzed.     

Genomic characterization of self-incompatibility ribonucleases (S-RNases) in loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) (Rosaceae, Pyrinae)

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) is a fruit tree species of the Pyrinae subtribe of the Rosaceae that behaves as self incompatible. Since self-incompatibility in the Rosaceae is of the gametophytic type where a stylar ribonuclease (S-RNase) controls the female function of pollen–pistil recognition, consensus primers derived from the alignment of S-RNase sequences from other Pyrinae species were used to search for S-RNases in loquat. As a result, the first four S-RNases were sequenced for this species. The genomic sequences obtained showed the structural features of Pyrinae S-RNases. Moreover, microscopic observations of pollen tube growth in the style confirmed the inter-(in)compatibility relationships predicted from the molecular analyses. Phylogenetic analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences with other Pyrinae S-RNases confirmed that divergence of S-alleles in loquat and the Pyrinae predated speciation. This study reports for the first time the genomic characterization of S-RNases in loquat, providing a sound basis for an appropriate selection of pollinator cultivars and an adequate design of breeding programs.     

Isolation of a latent polyphenol oxidase from loquat fruit (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.): kinetic characterization and comparison with the active form

Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) has been extracted from both soluble and particulate fractions of loquat fruit (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl. cv. Algerie). The soluble PPO (20% of total activity) was partially purified 3.3-fold after ammonium sulfate fractionation being in its active state. The particulate PPO fraction (80% of total activity) was purified to homogeneity in a latent form being activable by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The enzyme was purified 40.0-fold with a total yield of 15.3% after extraction by phase partitioning in Triton X-114 followed by three chromatographic steps. The molecular weight was estimated to be about 59.2 and 61.2 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and gel filtration chromatography, respectively, indicating that latent PPO is a monomer. Latent PPO catalyzed the oxidation of chlorogenic acid (CA) at a rate 50-fold faster than that of 4-tert-butylcatechol (TBC) but the soluble active counterpart only twice. Both PPOs exhibited similar Km values for TBC but Km for CA was 5-fold higher for the latent than for the active soluble PPO. Other kinetic characteristics, including sensitivity to inhibitors, substrate specificity, thermal stability, temperature, and pH profiles, were quite different between both PPOs. These results provide strong evidences that the soluble active and the particulate latent are different forms of PPO in loquat fruit flesh. The results suggest that the major PPO form for the oxidation of CA, leading to enzymatic browning under physiological conditions, is the latent one.     

枇杷幼叶组织培养与植株再生研究

目的:研究枇杷幼叶灭菌条件及愈伤组织的诱导、胚状体的分化及植株再生.方法:用饱和漂白粉上清液和0.1%升汞对枇杷叶进行不同时间的灭菌处理;将幼叶切成小块,接种在附加6-BA、2,4-D、NAA的培养基上,进行愈伤组织的诱导和植株再生.结果:幼叶的灭菌处理以在饱和漂白粉上清液中浸泡15 min、在0.1%升汞中浸泡4 m...     

Development of two loquat [Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.] linkage maps based on AFLPs and SSR markers from different Rosaceae species

Loquat [Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.] is a Rosaceae fruit species of growing interest as an alternative to the main fruit crops. However, only a few genetic studies have been carried out on this species. This paper reports the construction of the first genetic maps of two loquat cultivars based on AFLP and microsatellite markers from Malus, Eriobotrya, Pyrus and Prunus genera. An F₁ population consisting of 81 individuals, derived from the cross between ‘Algerie’ and ‘Zaozhong-6’ cultivars, was used to construct both maps. A total of 111 scorable simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci resulted from the testing of 440 SSR primer pairs in the analyzed progeny and the SSR transferability to Eriobotrya was found to be 74% from apple, 58% from pear and 49% from Prunus spp. In addition, 183 AFLP polymorphic bands were produced using 42 primer combinations. The ‘Algerie’ map was organized in 17 linkage groups covering a distance of 900 cM and comprising 177 loci (83 SSRs and 94 AFLPs) with an average marker distance of 5.1 cM. Self-incompatibility trait was mapped at the distal part of the LG17 linkage group, as previously reported in Malus and Pyrus. The ‘Zaozhong-6’ map covered 870 cM comprising 146 loci (64 SSRs and 82 AFLPs) with an average marker distance of 5.9 cM. The 44 SSRs and the 48 AFLPs share in common by both maps were essentially collinear and, moreover, the order of the 75% of apple and pear SSRs mapped in Eriobotrya was shown to be consistent across the Maloideae subfamily. As a whole, these maps represent a useful tool to facilitate loquat breeding and an interesting framework for map comparison in the Rosaceae.     

Genetic diversity of loquat germplasm (Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb) Lindl) assessed by SSR markers.

Genetic relationships among 40 loquat (Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb) Lindl) accessions that originated from different countries and that are part of the germplasm collection of the Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias (IVIA) (Valencia, Spain) were evaluated using microsatellites. Thirty primer pairs flanking microsatellites previously identified in Malus x domestica (Borkh.) were assayed. Thirteen of them amplified polymorphic products and unambiguously distinguished 34 genotypes from the 40 accessions analyzed. Six accessions showing identical marker patterns were Spanish local varieties thought to have been derived from 'Algerie' by a mutational process very common in loquat species. A total of 39 alleles were detected in the population studied, with a mean value of 2.4 alleles per locus. The expected and observed heterozygosities were 0.46 and 51% on average, respectively, leading to a negative value of the Wright's fixation index (-0.20). The values of these parameters indicate a smaller degree of genetic diversity in the set of loquat accessions analyzed than in other members of the Rosaceae family. Unweighted pair-group method (UPGMA) cluster analysis, based on Nei's genetic distance, generally grouped genotypes according to their geographic origins and pedigrees. The high number of alleles and the high expected heterozygosity detected with SSR markers developed in Malus x domestica (Borkh.) make them a suitable tool for loquat cultivar identification, confirming microsatellite marker transportability among genera in the Rosaceae family.     

枇杷果肉有机酸组分及有机酸在果实内的分布

用高效离子交换色谱（HPIC）测定了枇杷（Eriobotrya japonica Lindk）18个品种（小毛枇杷、夹脚、卓南1号、解放钟、富阳、森尾早生、华宝2号、香钟10号、白花、土肥、多宝2号、乌躬白、洛阳青、茂木、早钟6号、白梨、塘头4号和长红3号）的成熟果肉和2个品种（解放钟和早钟6号果）成熟果实不同组织有机酸含量。结果表明,成熟果肉中均含有苹果酸、奎尼酸、柠檬酸、异柠檬酸、α-酮戊二酸、富马酸、草酰乙酸、酒石酸8种有机酸,有的还含有微量的阿魏酸、顺乌头酸和B一香豆酸。大多数品种果肉中苹果酸含量最高,平均含量为4399mg kg^-1 FW,占总酸的62．7％;其次是奎尼酸,其平均含量为2042mgkg—FW,占总酸的29．1％。品种之间可滴定酸和有机酸含量差异很大。通过对果肉可滴定酸进行聚类分析,可把18个枇杷品种分为五个组群：极高酸（小毛枇杷）、高酸（夹脚、卓南1号、解放钟和富阳）、中酸（森尾早生、华宝2号、香钟10号、白花、土肥和多宝2号）、低酸（乌躬白、洛阳青、茂木和早钟6号）和极低酸（白梨、塘头4号和长红3号）。解放钟和早钟6号果肉和果皮的总酸含量及可滴定酸均无显著差异,但果皮和果肉的总酸含量和可滴定酸均大大高于种子。相似于果肉,果皮和种子的主要有机酸也是苹果酸和奎尼酸。果皮中苹果酸含量远高于奎尼酸,但种子中苹果酸含量比奎尼酸稍低。此外,种子中苹果酸和奎尼酸比果肉和果皮中的低得多。     

In Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) Return Bloom Depends on the Time the Fruit Remains on the Tree

In loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.), the comparison of fruiting trees and defruited trees carried out covering a range of developmental fruit stages reveals a significant reduction in flowering due to fruit from its early stage of development, being higher when it changes color and becomes senescent, which coincides with the floral bud inductive period. This effect occurred both at the tree and at the shoot level. Furthermore, although current shoots almost always develop into panicles, those from fruiting trees develop fewer flowers, suggesting that fruit also affects at the floral bud level. In our experiment, the gibberellin concentration at the floral bud inductive period was significantly higher in bark tissues (periderm, cortex and phloem tissues) of fruiting trees, compared with defruited trees that tend to flower more. The lower concentration of IAA in the bark tissues of defruited trees also contributes to increase their flowering intensity. On the contrary, the zeatin concentration was higher. Accordingly, at bud burst, the IAA/zeatin ratio, an indication of effect on flowering, was significantly higher for fruiting trees. Some disruption in the nitrate reduction process in fruiting tree was also observed. The process of floral bud induction and differentiation was not associated with either reducing or translocating and reserve carbohydrate concentration. Hence, loquat flower intensity depends on the time the fruit is maintained on the tree. The intensity is affected indirectly, by reducing the number of shoots, and directly, by reducing the number of flowers per panicle, and these effects are linked to endogenous plant hormone contents.     

Anti-oxidative effect of triterpene acids of Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. leaf in chronic bronchitis rats

The study was to evaluate the effect of triterpene acids of Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. leaf (TAL) on expression of antioxidative mediators by alveolar macrophages (AM) in rats with chronic bronchitis (CB), CB was induced by endotracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharedes (LPS) followed by Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) injection through caudal vein 1 week later. Treatment groups received TAL at there different doses (50, 150, or 450 mg/kg daily, intragastrically (i.g.)) or dexamethasone (1.2 mg/kg daily i.g.) for 2 weeks, 7 days after LPS injection. AM were then isolated and incubated. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and methylene dianiline (MDA) levels in AM were measured by commercial kits; meanwhile, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression and its mRNA expression in AM were detected by immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR, respectively. HO-1 activity of the lung was also detected by a specific biochemistry reaction. The levels of MDA and HO-1 expressed by cultured AM and the HO-1 activity in the lung of the TAL groups were significantly lower than those from the CB group without treatment (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively), while the SOD levels were increased in a dose-dependent manner by TAL treatment. These results suggest that TAL inhibits HO-1 expression and MDA production and up-regulates SOD expression in AM from CB rats, which might be one of molecular mechanisms of its anti-inflammatory effects in CB rats.     

Kinetic mechanism of pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructokinase from Propionibacterium freudenreichii

Inorganic pyrophosphate dependent D-fructose-6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase from Propionibacterium freudenreichii was purified to apparent homogeneity by the criterion of silver staining on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) gels. In the direction of phosphorylation of fructose 6-phosphate (F6P), an intersecting initial velocity pattern is obtained when MgPPi is varied at several levels of F6P. In the reverse reaction direction, the reactants are Mg2+, Pi, and fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (FDP). Variation of Pi at several levels of Mg2+ and a single level of FDP gives an intersecting pattern. When this pattern is repeated at several additional FDP levels, data are consistent with a fully random terreactant mechanism at pH 8.0 and 25 degrees C. The Keq calculated from the Haldane relationship [(5 +/- 1.5) X 10(-3) M] agrees with that determined directly from 31P NMR of the equilibrium mixture [(7 +/- 2) X 10(-3) M]. Product inhibition by Pi is competitive vs. either MgPPi or F6P with the other reactant saturating but changes to noncompetitive inhibition when the fixed reactant is decreased to Km levels. Product inhibition by MgPPi is competitive vs. either Pi or FDP with the other reactant saturating but changes to noncompetitive when the fixed reactant is decreased to Km levels. Tagatose 6-phosphate is competitive vs. F6P and noncompetitive vs. MgPPi. Methylenediphosphonate is competitive vs. MgPPi and noncompetitive vs. F6P. Sulfate is competitive vs. Pi and noncompetitive vs. FDP, while 2,5-anhydro-D-mannitol 1,6-bisphosphate is competitive vs. FDP and noncompetitive vs. Pi.     

Fruit Load and Root Development in Field-Grown Loquat Trees (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl)

Photosynthate translocation to the root in loquat trees decreases as fruit develops. Thus, during the most active period of fruit development, that is, from 50 % of its final size to the beginning of fruit color change, which correspond to BBCH growth scale stages 705 and 801, both translocating and reducing carbohydrate concentrations diminish greatly. Concomitantly, the results from our experiment show an increased abscisic acid (ABA) concentration and a decrease in the respiration rate detected by an accumulation of glucose-6-phosphate, which paralleled a reduced indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) concentration in roots. As a consequence, root development was strongly and significantly reduced. Because loquat fruit develops in winter and nonshoot growth takes place at this time, our results show that root development in loquat trees is controlled by the fruit, mediated by competition for carbohydrates and modulated by hormones. The experiment was conducted using field-grown loquat during two consecutive years and by comparing fruiting and defruited trees. Fruits were detached from the trees in the early fruit developmental stage (10 % of final size, 701 BBCH growth scale), and carbohydrate concentrations in leaves, shoot bark, and roots, as well as nitrogen fractions (N–NO₃ ^?, N–NH₄ ⁺, and N–proteinaceous) and hormone (IAA, zeatin, and ABA) concentrations in roots, were analyzed throughout the period of fruit development. Root development was evaluated by counting the emerging lateral root primordia during the fruit developmental stages BBCH growth scale 701–809 (fruit color fully developed).     

Control of purple spot of loquat fruit (Eriobotrya japonica) by means of mineral compounds

Treatments to control purple spot of loquat fruit (Eriobotrya japonica) were tested based on the hypothesis that the disorder appears as a consequence of water unbalance between flesh and epidermal tissues caused by their different ability for sugar accumulation. Calcium nitrate, calcium chloride, Ca‐EDTA, ammonium nitrate and potassium nitrate at a concentration of 150 mm applied 2 weeks before fruit colour break reduced significantly the proportion of purple‐spotted fruit, giving rise to a reduction of water potential of the epidermal tissue that allows it to retain water. The most favourable date of treatment was during the 2 weeks prior to fruit colour break.     

Plastid structure and carotenogenic gene expression in red- and white-fleshed loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) fruits

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) can be sorted into red- and white-fleshed cultivars. The flesh of Luoyangqing (LYQ, red-fleshed) appears red-orange because of a high content of carotenoids while the flesh of Baisha (BS, white-fleshed) appears ivory white due to a lack of carotenoid accumulation. The carotenoid content in the peel and flesh of LYQ was approximately 68 μg g(-1) and 13 μg g(-1) fresh weight (FW), respectively, and for BS 19 μg g(-1) and 0.27 μg g(-1) FW. The mRNA levels of 15 carotenogenesis-related genes were analysed during fruit development and ripening. After the breaker stage (S4), the mRNA levels of phytoene synthase 1 (PSY1) and chromoplast-specific lycopene β-cyclase (CYCB) were higher in the peel, and CYCB and β-carotene hydroxylase (BCH) mRNAs were higher in the flesh of LYQ, compared with BS. Plastid morphogenesis during fruit ripening was also studied. The ultrastructure of plastids in the peel of BS changed less than in LYQ during fruit development. Two different chromoplast shapes were observed in the cells of LYQ peel and flesh at the fully ripe stage. Carotenoids were incorporated in the globules in chromoplasts of LYQ and BS peel but were in a crystalline form in the chromoplasts of LYQ flesh. However, no chromoplast structure was found in the cells of fully ripe BS fruit flesh. The mRNA level of plastid lipid-associated protein (PAP) in the peel and flesh of LYQ was over five times higher than in BS peel and flesh. In conclusion, the lower carotenoid content in BS fruit was associated with the lower mRNA levels of PSY1, CYCB, and BCH; however, the failure to develop normal chromoplasts in BS flesh is the most convincing explanation for the lack of carotenoid accumulation. The expression of PAP was well correlated with chromoplast numbers and carotenoid accumulation, suggesting its possible role in chromoplast biogenesis or interconversion of loquat fruit.     

Fruit Regulates Bud Sprouting and Vegetative Growth in Field-Grown Loquat Trees (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.): Nutritional and Hormonal Changes

The effects of fruit on bud sprouting and vegetative growth were compared on fruiting and defruited loquat trees from fruit set onward. Carbohydrate and nitrogen content in leaves and bark tissues and hormone concentrations were studied during the fruit development and vegetative growth periods. On defruited trees, a significant proportion of buds sprouted in winter, whereas buds from fruiting trees sprouted only in the spring when fruit reached its final size. Furthermore, when panicles were completely removed in autumn, the buds also sprouted. In addition, fruit directly affected vegetative growth by reducing shoot length. An effect of sink removal (flower or fruit) promoting bud sprouting, regardless of the season, was then demonstrated. Neither soluble sugar concentration nor nitrogen fraction concentration in leaves or bark tissues was related to bud sprouting, but a certain nutritional imbalance was observed during the most active period of fruit development. Moreover, fruit sink activity significantly modified hormone content by increasing indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and reducing zeatin concentrations, resulting in a higher IAA/zeatin ratio parallel to the lower bud sprouting intensity. Therefore, these changes caused by fruit removal are all related to vegetative growth, but there is no evidence that they are responsible for bud burst.