Xyloglucan endotransglycosylase activity during fruit development and ripening of apple and kiwifruit

Xyloglucan endotransglycosylase (XET) activity was measured in apple (Malus domestica Borkh. cv. Braeburn) pericarp and kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa [A. Chev.] C. F. Liang et A. R. Ferguson var. deliciosa cv. Hayward) outer pericarp and core tissues in order to establish whether a correlation exists between the activity of the enzyme and different stages of fruit development Whereas the growth rate of kiwifruit paralleled changes in XET activity throughout fruit growth, that of apple did not. Both fruits showed the highest XET activity, on a fresh weight basis, in the first two weeks after anthesis when cell division was at its highest. XET activity then decreased sharply, but as the fruit increased in size (4–8 weeks after anthesis) there was a concomitant increase in XET activity in both fruits. In the latter stage of fruit development (16–26 weeks after anthesis) XET activity increased to peak at harvest in apple fruit. During this time there was relatively little increase in fruit size and presumably therefore minimal cell expansion. XET activity then declined as fruit softened after harvest. In core tissue from kiwifruit, XET activity increased throughout the later stages of fruit growth to harvest maturity in a similar manner to apple, but continued to increase after harvest until fruit were ripe. In contrast, XET activity in the outer pericarp of kiwifruit did not increase until ripening after harvest. In apple tissue up to 30% of the XET activity was cell wall bound and could not be solubilised, even in buffer containing 2 M NaCl. The results implicate XET in cell wall assembly during cell division and expansion early in apple and kiwifruit growth. However, the disparity between apple and kiwifruit with respect to XET activity late in fruit development and ripening and the different affinities of the enzyme for the cell wall in each fruit, suggest that XET has several roles in plant development, not all of which are related to cell wall loosening during periods of accelerated growth.     

Analysis of the tomato fruit growth response to temperature and plant fruit load in relation to cell division, cell expansion and DNA endoreduplication

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To better understand the regulation of fruit growth in response to environmental factors, the effects of temperature and plant fruit load on cell number, cell size and DNA endoreduplication were analysed. METHODS: Plants were grown at 20/20 degrees C, 25/25 degrees C and 25/20 degrees C day/night temperatures, and inflorescences were pruned to two ('2F') or five ('5F') flowers. KEY RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Despite a lower fruit growth rate at 20/20 degrees C, temperature did not affect final fruit size because of the compensation between cell number and size. The higher cell number at 20/20 degrees C (9.0 x 10(6) against 7.9 x 10(6) at 25/25 degrees C and 7.7 x 10(6) at 25/20 degrees C) resulted from an extended period of cell division, and the smaller cell size was due to a shorter period of expansion rather than a lower expansion rate. By contrast, the lower fruit growth rate and size of 5F fruits compared with 2F fruits resulted from the slow down of cell expansion, whereas the number of cells was hardly affected in the proximal fruit. However, within the inflorescence the decreasing gradient of fruit size from proximal to distal fruits was due to a decrease in cell number with similar cell size. Fruit size variations within each treatment were always positively correlated to variations in cell number, but not in cell size. Negative correlations between cell size and cell number suggested that cells of tomato pericarp can be seen as a population of competing sinks. Mean ploidy was slightly delayed and reduced in 5F fruits compared with 2F fruits. It was highest at 25/25 degrees C and lowest at 25/20 degrees C. Treatments did not affect ploidy and cell size in similar ways, but within each treatment, positive correlations existed between mean ploidy and cell size, though significant only in the 2F-25/20 treatment.     

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.     

Cell expansion and endoreduplication show a large genetic variability in pericarp and contribute strongly to tomato fruit growth

Postanthesis growth of tomato (Solanum lycopersicon) as of many types of fruit relies on cell division and cell expansion, so that some of the largest cells to be found in plants occur in fleshy fruit. Endoreduplication is known to occur in such materials, which suggests its involvement in cell expansion, although no data have demonstrated this hypothesis as yet. We have analyzed pattern formation, cell size, and ploidy in tomato fruit pericarp. A first set of data was collected in one cherry tomato line throughout fruit development. A second set of data was obtained from 20 tomato lines displaying a large weight range in fruit, which were compared as ovaries at anthesis and as fully grown fruit at breaker stage. A remarkable conservation of pericarp pattern, including cell layer number and cell size, is observed in all of the 20 tomato lines at anthesis, whereas large variations of growth occur afterward. A strong, positive correlation, combining development and genetic diversity, is demonstrated between mean cell size and ploidy, which holds for mean cell diameters from 10 to 350 microm (i.e. a 32,000-times volume variation) and for mean ploidy levels from 3 to 80 C. Fruit weight appears also significantly correlated with cell size and ploidy. These data provide a framework of pericarp patterning and growth. They strongly suggest the quantitative importance of polyploidy-associated cell expansion as a determinant of fruit weight in tomato.     

Regulation of tomato fruit growth by epidermal cell wall enzymes

Water relations of tomato fruit and the epidermal and pericarp activities of the putative cell wall loosening and tightening enzymes Xyloglucan endotransglycosylase (XET) and peroxidase were investigated, to determine whether tomato fruit growth is principally regulated in the epidermis or pericarp. Analysis of the fruit water relations and observation of the pattern of expansion of tomato fruit slices in vitro , has shown that the pericarp exerts tissue pressure on the epidermis in tomato fruit, suggesting that the rate of growth of tomato fruit is determined by the physical properties of the epidermal cell walls. The epidermal activities of XET and peroxidase were assayed throughout fruit development. Temporal changes in these enzyme activities were found to correspond well with putative cell wall loosening and stiffening during fruit development. XET activity was found to be proportional to the relative expansion rate of the fruit until growth ceased, and a peroxidase activity weakly bound to the epidermal cell wall appeared shortly before cessation of fruit expansion. No equivalent peroxidase activity was detected in pericarp tissue of any age. It is therefore plausible that the expansion of tomato fruit is regulated by the combined action of these enzyme activities in the fruit epidermis.     

The specific overexpression of a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor in tomato fruit mesocarp cells uncouples endoreduplication and cell growth

The size of tomato fruit results from the combination of cell number and cell size, which are respectively determined by the cell division and cell expansion processes. As fruit growth is mainly sustained by cell expansion, the development of fleshy pericarp tissue is characterized by numerous rounds of endoreduplication inducing a spectacular increase in DNA ploidy and mean cell size. Although a clear relationship exists between endoreduplication and cell growth in plants, the exact role of endoreduplication has not been clearly elucidated. To decipher the molecular basis of endoreduplication-associated cell growth in fruit, we investigated the putative involvement of the tomato cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor SlKRP1. We studied the kinetics of pericarp development in tomato fruit at the morphological and cytological levels, and demonstrated that endoreduplication is directly proportional to cell and fruit diameter. We established a mathematical model for tissue growth according to the number of divisions and endocycles. This model was tested in fruits where we managed to decrease the extent of endoreduplication by over-expressing SlKRP1 under the control of a fruit-specific promoter expressed during early development. Despite the fact that endoreduplication was affected, we could not observe any morphological, cytological or metabolic phenotypes, indicating that determination of cell and fruit size can be, at least conditionally, uncoupled from endoreduplication.     

Effect of temperature on the growth of individual cucumber fruits

In order to study the effect of temperature on the growth of individual fruits in cucumber (cucumis sativus L. cv. Corona), fruits were grown at 17. 5. 20,25 and 30°C continuously or the fruit temperature was changed from 17. 5 to 27.5°C or vice versa. Fruit development appeared to be closely related to the temperature sum. When the growth of a fruit was not constrained by assimilate supply, a decrease in growing period with increasing temperature was more than compensated for by a strong increase in growth rate, resulting in an increase in final fruit weight. However, when the growth of a fruit was constrained by assimilate supply, the increase in growth rate with increasing temperature was small and did not compensate for the decrease in growing period, resulting in a decrease in final fruit weight. Determinations of cell number and size showed that the effect of temperature on fruit growth was due to effects on cell expansion rather than on cell division. When growth was not constrained by assimilate supply. However, when assimilate supply did constrain fruit growth the number of cells per fruit decreased with increasing temperature, while the effect on cell size was negligible. In all stages of fruit development, the growth rate of a cucumber fruit responded within one day to a change in temperature. It was not irreversibly impaired by a low temperature (17. 5°C) during the early development of a fruit. A high temperature treatment (27. 5°C), however, had a great effect on the growth rate of a fruit after the temperature treatment had terminated. At all stages of fruit development (even before anthesis) a period of four days at 27. 5°C resulted in a pronounced stimulation of the growth rate afterwards at 17. 5°C.     

Hormone and seed-specific regulation of pea fruit growth

Growth of young pea (Pisum sativum) fruit (pericarp) requires developing seeds or, in the absence of seeds, treatment with gibberellin (GA) or auxin (4-chloroindole-3-acetic acid). This study examined the role of seeds and hormones in the regulation of cell division and elongation in early pea fruit development. Profiling histone H2A and gamma-tonoplast intrinsic protein (TIP) gene expression during early fruit development identified the relative contributions of cell division and elongation to fruit growth, whereas histological studies identified specific zones of cell division and elongation in exocarp, mesocarp, and endocarp tissues. Molecular and histological studies showed that maximal cell division was from -2 to 2 d after anthesis (DAA) and elongation from 2 to 5 DAA in pea pericarp. Maximal increase in pericarp gamma-TIP message level preceded the maximal rate of fruit growth and, in general, gamma-TIP mRNA level was useful as a qualitative marker for expanding tissue, but not as a quantitative marker for cell expansion. Seed removal resulted in rapid decreases in pericarp growth and in gamma-TIP and histone H2A message levels. In general, GA and 4-chloroindole-3-acetic acid maintained these processes in deseeded pericarp similarly to pericarps with seeds, and both hormones were required to obtain mesocarp cell sizes equivalent to intact fruit. However, GA treatment to deseeded pericarps resulted in elevated levels of gamma-TIP mRNA (6 and 7 DAA) when pericarp growth and cell enlargement were minimal. Our data support the theory that cell division and elongation are developmentally regulated during early pea fruit growth and are maintained by the hormonal interaction of GA and auxin.     

Regulation of tomato fruit pericarp development by an interplay between CDKB and CDKA1 cell cycle genes

Growth of tomato fruits is determined by cell division and cell expansion, which are tightly controlled by factors that drive the core cell cycle. The cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and their interacting partners, the cyclins, play a key role in the progression of the cell cycle. In this study the role of CDKA1, CDKB1, and CDKB2 in fruit development was characterized by fruit-specific overexpression and down-regulation. CDKA1 is expressed in the pericarp throughout development, but is strongly up-regulated in the outer pericarp cell layers at the end of the growth period, when CDKB gene expression has ceased. Overexpression of the CDKB genes at later stages of development and the down-regulation of CDKA1 result in a very similar fruit phenotype, showing a reduction in the number of cell layers in the pericarp and alterations in the desiccation of the fruits. Expression studies revealed that CDKA1 is down-regulated by the expression of CDKB1/2 in CDKB1 and CDKB2 overexpression mutants, suggesting opposite roles for these types of CDK proteins in tomato pericarp development.     

Blossom-end rot in relation to growth rate and calcium content in fruits of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

The relative importance of growth rate and calcium concentration in sweet pepper fruits (Capsicum annuum L.) for the induction of blossom-end rot (BER) was investigated in (1) four pollination treatments in one cultivar, (2) four cultivars with the same fruit load and (3) three fruit load treatments in four cultivars. For fruits with the same pollination treatment those eventually developing BER had a higher initial fruit growth rate than those not developing BER. Within the same experiment both the growth rate of the young fruit and BER increased with the number of seeds. The Ca concentration of the pericarp in mature fruits was negatively related to both fruit size and BER incidence. Differences in levels of BER between different pollination experiments could not be explained solely by differences in growth rate of the young fruit, but related to different Ca concentrations in the mature fruits. In the spring, but not in the summer, cultivars more susceptible to BER had a larger final size but lower Ca concentration in the young fruit than the resistant ones. By lowering the fruit load in the summer both the final fruit size and the BER incidence increased, but the Ca concentrations of both proximal and distal pericarp in the young fruit of all cultivars were not consistently affected. Despite a correlation between growth rate and low Ca concentration in the fruit, the incidence of BER may only be predicted from separate effects of fruit growth and of Ca concentration of fruit. The data indicated that at a higher growth rate a higher Ca concentration is required to prevent the induction of BER. The usefulness of the total Ca concentration of the fruit for determining the critical Ca concentration in the induction of BER is discussed.Key words: Capiscum annuum L., sweet pepper, blossom-end rot, calcium, growth rate, pollination, fruit load.      

宁夏枸杞果实内源激素的变化及其与细胞壁成分和相关酶的关系

采用高效液相色谱技术, 研究了不同发育时期宁杞1号和宁杞5号枸杞(Lycium barbarum)果皮和种子内源激素(玉米素(ZT)、赤霉素(GA₃)、生长素(IAA)和脱落酶(ABA))含量与果实生长发育的关系。结果表明, 宁杞5号果实横纵径和单粒重均大于宁杞1号, 果实发育前期, 尤其是缓慢生长期, 是宁杞5号果实大小和重量积累的关键时期。宁杞1号种子中的生长素含量与果实横径和果实单粒重均呈极显著正相关, 与果实纵径呈显著正相关。宁杞5号果皮中玉米素含量与果实横径和单粒重均呈显著正相关, 种子中生长素含量与果实横径和单粒重均呈显著正相关。玉米素促进细胞的分裂, 而细胞数目比细胞体积对决定果实大小的作用更大; 在缓慢生长期(开花后8–25天), 宁杞5号果皮和种子中的脱落酸含量均显著小于宁杞1号。以上两点可能是宁杞5号的横纵径和单粒重均大于宁杞1号的主要原因。宁杞1号果皮中的GA₃与半纤维素酶(Cx)活性的变化相反, 说明宁杞1号果实发育前期和中期果皮中高含量的GA₃对细胞壁中Cx活性有一定的抑制作用, 从而表现出果实膨大。宁杞5号果皮中的IAA与多聚半乳糖醛酸酶(PG)和果胶酯酶(PE), ZT与PE, ABA与Cx, 种子中的ZT与PE的变化均相反, 说明宁杞5号果实发育前期和中期果皮中高含量的IAA、ZT、ABA及种子中的ZT可促进果实的膨大。推测这可能是宁杞5号果实单粒重大于宁杞1号的主要原因之一。宁杞5号果皮中的ZT和种子中的IAA可以增强Cx的活性; 宁杞1号果皮中的ABA可以增强PE的活性, 进而促进果实的成熟。     

Biosynthesis, accumulation and degradation of theobromine in developing Theobroma cacao fruits

We have studied the purine alkaloid content and purine metabolism in Theobroma cacao fruits at differing growth stages: Stage A (young small fruit, fresh weight, ca. 2 g); stage B (medium size fruit, fresh weight, ca. 100 g) and stage C (large size, fresh weight, ca. 500 g). The major purine alkaloid in stage A fruits (mainly pericarp) was theobromine (0.7 micromol g(-1) fresh weight), followed by caffeine (0.09 micromol g(-1) fresh weight). The theobromine content of the pericarp decreased sharply with tissue age, and the caffeine content decreased gradually. A large amount of theobromine (22 micromol g(-1) fresh weight) had accumulated in seeds (mainly cotyledons) of stage C fruits. Theobromine was found also in the seed coat and placenta. Tracer experiments with [8-(14)C]adenine show that the major sites of theobromine synthesis are the young pericarp and cotyledons of T. cacao fruits. Limited amounts of purine alkaloids may be transported from the pericarp to seed tissue, but most purine alkaloids that accumulated in seeds appeared to be synthesised in cotyledons. Degradation of [8-(14)C]theobromine and [8-(14)C]caffeine to CO2 via 3-methylxanthine and ureides (allantoin and allantoic acid) was detected only in the pericarp of stage C fruits.     

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.     

Major proteome variations associated with cherry tomato pericarp development and ripening

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a model plant for studying fleshy fruit development. Several genetic and molecular approaches have been developed to increase our knowledge about the physiological basis of fruit growth, but very few data are yet available at the proteomic level. The main stages of fruit development were first determined through the dynamics of fruit diameter and pericarp cell number. Then, total proteins were extracted from pericarp tissue at six relevant developmental stages and separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Protein patterns were markedly different between stages. Proteins showing major variations were monitored. We identified 90 of 1,791 well-resolved spots either by matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization time-of-flight peptide mass fingerprinting or liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry sequencing and expressed sequence tag database searching. Clustered correlation analysis results pointed out groups of proteins with similar expression profiles during fruit development. In young fruit, spots linked to amino acid metabolism or protein synthesis were mainly expressed during the cell division stage and down-regulated later. Some spots linked to cell division processes could be identified. During the cell expansion phase, spots linked to photosynthesis and proteins linked to cell wall formation transiently increased. In contrast, the major part of the spots related to C compounds and carbohydrate metabolism or oxidative processes were up-regulated during fruit development, showing an increase in spot intensity during development and maximal abundance in mature fruit. This was also the case for spots linked to stress responses and fruit senescence. We discuss protein variations, taking into account their potential role during fruit growth and comparing our results with already known variations at mRNA and metabolite-profiling levels.     

Water relations and growth of tomato fruit pericarp tissue

The water relations of young tomato fruit pericarp tissue were examined and related to tissue expansion. The relationship between bulk turgor pressure and tissue expansion (as change in fresh mass or length of tissue) was determined in slices of pericarp cut from young, growing fruit by incubation in different osmotic concentrations of polyethylene glycol 6000 or mannitol. The bulk turgor of this tissue was low (about 0.2 MPa), even in fruit from plants that were otherwise fully turgid, whether measured psychrometrically or by length change in osmotic solutions. The rate of tissue growth at maximum turgor was less than that at moderate turgor unless calcium was added to the incubation medium. However, added calcium also decreased the rate of growth at lower turgor pressures. Yield turgor was < 0.1 MPa, but it was increased by the addition of calcium ions. Electrolyte leakage from tissue was greatest at maximum turgor pressure but was decreased by the addition of calcium ions or osmoticum. Tissue growth was unaffected by a range of plant growth regulators (IAA, abscisic acid, benzyladenine and GA₃) but was inhibited, particularly at high turgor, by low concentrations of malic or citric acid. The low turgor pressure of pericarp tissue could be due to the presence of apoplastic solutes within the pericarp, and evidence for this is discussed. Thus, fruit tissue may be able to maintain optimal expansion rates only at moderate turgor and low calcium concentration.     

Effect of number and configuration of fruits, photon flux and age on the growth and dry matter distribution of fruits of Pisum sativum L.

Abstract. In experiments with Pisum sativum cv. Sleaford Orbiter in a controlled environment, the effect of fruit number and position, photon flux density and developmental stage on fruit growth was studied. During early development (up to 22 d from anthesis) growth of the first fruit was unaffected by the presence of one or two additional fruits irrespective of their position. When grown to maturity in competition with fruits at the same node a small decrease in weight of this fruit was observed. Where plants retained a full complement (20-30) of fruits the growth of the first fruit was markedly decreased at all stages of development (6-40 d). In all instances where competition was observed, the pericarp was more affected than the seeds. This was particularly so when photon flux was decreased 18-22 d from anthesis compared with a decrease at an earlier stage. Partition of dry matter between fruits showed a progressively increasing allocation to the later-formed fruits with time for all treatments. The actual proportions allocated to different fruits were not changed by the number of competing fruits. Decreasing photon flux by more than two-thirds decreased fruit growth rates but had little effect on dry matter partitioning in most cases, although where all fruits were retained, there was a tendency for fruits at the lower reproductive nodes to be less affected. These findings are discussed in relation to known sources of assimilate for fruits, assimilate transport and sink demand. It is suggested that partition of dry matter between fruits can be estimated on the basis of fruit size and the developmental trend in relative growth rate of fruits grown in the absence of competition for assimilate from other fruits.     

Modulation of Competition between Fruits and Leaves by Flower Pruning and Water Fogging, and Consequences on Tomato Leaf and Fruit Growth

The effects of water fogging and reducing plant fruit load werestudied in a tomato crop grown in a glasshouse under Mediterraneansummer conditions. The objective of these treatments was toreduce competition between leaves and fruits for carbohydratesand water. Flower pruning increased plant leaf area and increasedfruit, stem, lamina and petiole dry mass (DM). This indicatesthat leaf area growth was limited during the summer due to competitionbetween fruits and leaves for assimilates. In contrast, reducingthe air vapour pressure deficit (VPD) by water fogging had noeffect on plant leaf area or aerial plant DM. Interestingly,there was a significant interaction between plant fruit loadand VPD: the higher the leaf[ratio]fruit ratio the greater theresponses to a reduction in VPD (increase in fruit DM, fruitdiameter, fruit and leaf expansion rate). The data suggest thatunder high fruit loads, water and carbohydrates limit growthunder Mediterranean summer conditions. However, reducing VPDwas not always sufficient to enhance fruit and leaf growth.This might be due to the lower leaf area under high fruit load.In contrast, reducing VPD under low fruit load triggered higherrates of leaf and fruit expansion; this is probably linked toa greater availability of water and carbohydrates. Copyright2001 Annals of Botany Company Assimilate competition, assimilate supply, flower pruning, fruit load, fruit growth, generative/vegetative growth, leaf growth, Lycopersicon esculentum, specific leaf weight, tomato, vapour pressure deficit, water stress     

The cell cycle-associated protein kinase WEE1 regulates cell size in relation to endoreduplication in developing tomato fruit

Tomato fruit size results from the combination of cell number and cell size which are respectively determined by cell division and cell expansion processes. As fruit growth is mainly sustained by cell expansion, the development of pericarp and locular tissues is characterized by the concomitant arrest of mitotic activity, inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) activity, and numerous rounds of endoreduplication inducing a spectacular increase in DNA ploidy and mean cell size. To decipher the molecular basis of the endoreduplication-associated cell growth in fruit, we investigated the putative involvement of the WEE1 kinase (Solly;WEE1). We here report a functional analysis of Solly;WEE1 in tomato. Impairing the expression of Solly;WEE1 in transgenic tomato plants resulted in a reduction of plant size and fruit size. In the most altered phenotypes, fruits displayed a reduced number of seeds without embryo development. The reduction of plant-, fruit- and seed size originated from a reduction in cell size which could be correlated with a decrease of the DNA ploidy levels. At the molecular level downregulating Solly;WEE1 in planta resulted in the increase of CDKA activity levels originating from a decrease of the amount of Y15-phosphorylated CDKA, thus indicating a release of the negative regulation on CDK activity exerted by WEE1. Our data indicated that Solly;WEE1 participates in the control of cell size and/or the onset of the endoreduplication process putatively driving cell expansion.     

Within-bunch Variability in Banana Fruit Weight: Importance of Developmental Lag Between Fruits

Within-bunch (inflorescence) variability in banana fruit weightis of great importance: distal fruits (at the bottom of thebunch) are 30 to 40% smaller than basal fruits at the top. Wehypothesize that this variability is related to a developmentallag between fruits. To validate this hypothesis, histologicalstudies (evolution in number of cells along the fruit radius,starch granule number and size) associated with physiologicalmeasurements (pulp dry weight, dry matter and starch concentration)were carried out. Fruit development stages were dated in cumulativedegree-days (dd) from flower emergence to 3 weeks after theharvest stage (1300 dd). For a fruit located at the top of thebunch, cell divisions ceased around 350 dd and cells began tofill with starch as soon as they appeared. A developmental lagbetween fruits at the top and bottom of the bunch was observed:cell divisions started and stopped approx. 70 dd later in bottom(distal) compared to top (basal) fruits. At the end of celldivisions, basal fruits had a higher number of cells along thefruit radius. This difference in cell number may be due to increasedcompetition for assimilates between fruits when cell divisionoccurs in distal fruits. Variability in cell number may be relatedto variability in pulp dry weight. We conclude that within-bunchvariability in banana fruit weight is related to a differencein cell number and age. Copyright 2001 Annals of Botany Company Musa acuminata, banana, fruit development, fruit growth, cell number, starch accumulation, fruit quality, fruit green-life, fruit-fruit competition