欧李果实发育期糖和酸组分及其含量的动态变化特性

以农大3号、农大4号、农大5号3个欧李品种为材料,测定果实发育过程中各组分糖、酸及总糖、总酸的含量,以明确欧李果实糖酸积累的动态变化特性.结果显示:(1)3个欧李品种果实成熟期糖含量、酸含量及糖酸比存在明显差异,其中农大3号品种的总糖含量最高,总酸含量最低,糖酸比值最高.(2)成熟期3品种各糖组分中均以果糖含量较高,葡萄糖和蔗糖含量较低,山梨醇含量微量;酸组分中均以苹果酸为主,柠檬酸少量.(3)3个品种果糖、蔗糖、葡萄糖、山梨醇含量在整个果实发育期均呈持续增加态势,并以果糖积累为主;农大3号果糖含量在8周后增幅明显高于另2个品种,且一直保持到果实成熟;3个品种蔗糖含量的变化趋势相近,在前期和中期增加缓慢,接近成熟的2～3周则迅速增加并占整个发育期积累量的70%以上.(4)3个品种酸含量的变化趋势较为相似,苹果酸和柠檬酸在果实发育的前期和中期含量均较低,在果实发育后期迅速增加,但接近果实成熟时又大幅下降.研究表明,果糖与苹果酸的含量及其动态变化是影响欧李果实糖酸比、决定果实风味的主要因素.     

荔枝若干重要果实品质性状的QTL分析

以‘马贵荔＇ב焦核三月红＇76株F_1代群体为试材,检测了酒石酸、苹果酸、蔗糖含量和单果重4个果实性状分离的情况。结果表明,4个性状表现为连续分布,具有数量性状的典型特征,与4个果实性状连锁的QTL位点23个,其中控制酒石酸的QTL为2个,控制苹果酸的QTL为4个,控制蔗糖的QTL为12个和控制单果重的QTL为5个。各QTL的LOD值在3.15～5.61之间,可解释13.85%～88.3%的表型变异。     

Modelling citrate metabolism in fruits: responses to growth and temperature

Citrate production and degradation during the last stage of fruit development were modelled by representing the fluxes through the enzymes of the citrate cycle and the malic enzyme, the transport of metabolites between the cytosol and the mitochondria, and the stoichiometry equations that relate these reactions. After solving the corresponding system of equations, the rate of citrate synthesis (or degradation) was expressed as a simple function of temperature, mesocarp weight, and respiration. The model was applied to peach fruit, and its parameters were estimated from the data of a 2-year field experiment. The predictions of the model were in agreement with experimental data. Simulations were made to analyse the responses to variations of temperature and fruit growth. Increasing fruit growth before stone hardening stimulated citrate production, while increasing fruit growth after stone hardening reduced it. Delaying the date at which the maximum growth rate was reached enhanced citrate production during most of the period. In the last weeks before harvest, increasing temperature depressed citrate production, while, at the beginning of the period studied, it enhanced it.     

Differences in acidity of apples are probably mainly caused by a malic acid transporter gene on LG16

Acidity has profound effects on the taste of apples (Malus × domestica). Malic acid is the predominant organic acid in apples. Differences in malic acid content are caused by differences in accumulation of malic acid in the vacuole. This accumulation may be caused by a gene that is responsible for transport of malic acid from the cytosol into the vacuole. Here, we provide evidence that a malic acid transporter gene at the top of chromosome 16 caused significant differences in malic acid concentration and pH of apples. The pH of apples in a segregating F1 population was mapped and at the pH locus (named henceforth Ma locus for malic acid), two putative malic acid transporter genes were detected. These genes show high homology to AtALMT genes that code for malate channel proteins located in vacuolar membrane in Arabidopsis. The expression of one of the candidate genes (Ma1) cosegregated clearly with malic acid content. The inheritance of at least one dominant allele of this gene sufficed for an increased expression level that likely caused the observed threefold increase of the malic acid concentration and the reduction of the pH from 4 to 3 in mature apples, compared to the presence of the recessive, lowly expressed allele only. Our results show that differences in fruit acidity were probably caused by differences in expression levels of alleles of a malic acid transporter gene.     

Co-mapping studies of QTLs for fruit acidity and candidate genes of organic acid metabolism and proton transport in sweet melon (Cucumis melo L.)

Sweet melon cultivars contain a low level of organic acids and, therefore, the quality and flavor of sweet melon fruit is determined almost exclusively by fruit sugar content. However, genetic variability for fruit acid levels in the Cucumis melo species exists and sour fruit accessions are characterized by acidic fruit pH of <5, compared to the sweet cultivars that are generally characterized by mature fruit pH values of >6. In this paper, we report results from a mapping population based on recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from the cross between the non-sour 'Dulce' variety and the sour PI 414323 accession. Results show that a single major QTL for pH co-localizes with major QTLs for the two predominant organic acids in melon fruit, citric and malic, together with an additional metabolite which we identified as uridine. While the acidic recombinants were characterized by higher citric and malic acid levels, the non-acidic recombinants had a higher uridine content than did the acidic recombinants. Additional minor QTLs for pH, citric acid and malic acid were also identified and for these the increased acidity was unexpectedly contributed by the non-sour parent. To test for co-localization of these QTLs with genes encoding organic acid metabolism and transport, we mapped the genes encoding structural enzymes and proteins involved in organic acid metabolism, transport and vacuolar H+ pumps. None of these genes co-localized with the major pH QTL, indicating that the gene determining melon fruit pH is not one of the candidate genes encoding this primary metabolic pathway. Linked markers were tested in two additional inter-varietal populations and shown to be linked to the pH trait. The presence of the same QTL in such diverse segregating populations suggests that the trait is determined throughout the species by variability in the same gene and is indicative of a major role of the evolution of this gene in determining the important domestication trait of fruit acidity within the species.     

Isolation and characterization of six peach cDNAs encoding key proteins in organic acid metabolism and solute accumulation: involvement in regulating peach fruit acidity

As in many other fleshy fruits, the predominant organic acids in ripe peach ( Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) fruit are malic and citric acids. The accumulation of these metabolites in fruit flesh is regulated during fruit development. Six peach fruit-related genes implicated in organic acid metabolism (mitochondrial citrate synthase; cytosolic NAD-dependent malate dehydrogenase, and cytosolic NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase) and storage (vacuolar proton translocating pumps: one vacuolar H⁺-ATPase, and two vacuolar H⁺-pyrophosphatases) were cloned. Five of these peach genes were homologous to genes isolated from fruit in other fleshy fruit species. Phylogenetic and expression analyses suggested the existence of a particular vacuolar pyrophosphatase highly expressed in fruit. The sixth gene was the first cytosolic NAD-dependent malate dehydrogenase gene isolated from fruit. Gene expression was studied during the fruit development of two peach cultivars, a normal-acid (Fantasia) and a low-acid (Jalousia) cultivar. The overall expression patterns of the organic acid-related genes appeared strikingly similar for the two cultivars. The genes involved in organic acid metabolism showed a stronger expression in ripening fruit than during the earlier phases of development, but their expression patterns were not necessarily correlated with the changes in organic acid contents. The tonoplast proton pumps showed a biphasic expression pattern more consistent with the patterns of organic acid accumulation, and the tonoplast pyrophosphatases were more highly expressed in the fruit of the low-acid cultivar during the second rapid growth phase of the fruit.     

中华猕猴桃品种'Hort16A'的果实发育特征

To explore the fruit development characteristics of Actinidia chinensis'Hort16A' , fruit shape indexes during 2-154 d after anthesis, contents of soluble sugar and titratable acid in fruit during 30-154 d after anthesis, and contents of organic acid components in fruit during 44-147 d after anthesis were analyzed. The results show that fruit of 'Hort16A' grows rapidly during 30-44 and 58-72 d after anthesis. Content of soluble solid in fruit during 100-140 d after anthesis is slightly higher than that during 2-93 d after anthesis, and increases rapidly during 147-154 d after anthesis. Fruit firmness decreases rapidly during 147-154 d after anthesis. In general, during 30-154 d after anthesis, content of soluble sugar in fruit increases gradually, while content of titratable acid decreases firstly, then increases, and decreases again. In the fruit, tartaric acid is not detected, content of quininic acid is the highest, contents of malic acid and citric acid are higher, and contents of succinic acid and fumaric acid are very low. Total content of organic acids increases firstly and then decreases, and reaches the highest value at 140 d after anthesis. It is suggested that in order to improve fruit quality of'Hort16A' , its cultivation and management plans will be set up based on fruit development characteristics.     

Peach (Prunus persica) fruit response to anoxia: reversible ripening delay and biochemical changes

The use of modified atmospheres has been successfully applied in different fruits to delay the ripening process and to prevent physiological disorders. In addition, during normal ripening, hypoxic areas are generated inside the fruit; moreover, anaerobic conditions may also arise during fruit post-harvest storage and handling. In consequence, the fruit is an interesting model to analyze the metabolic modifications due to changes in oxygen levels. In this work, a 72 h anoxic treatment by using an N(2) storage atmosphere was applied to peaches (Prunus persica L. Batsch) after harvest. Ripening was effectively delayed in treated fruits, preventing fruit softening, color changes and ethylene production. Metabolic changes induced by anoxia included induction of fermentative pathways, glycolysis and enzymes involved in both sucrose synthesis and degradation. Sucrose, fructose and glucose contents remained unchanged in treated fruit, probably due to sucrose cycling. Sorbitol was not consumed and citrate was increased, correlating with citric acid cycle impairment due to O(2) deprivation. Malate content was not affected, indicating compensation in the reactions producing and consuming malate. Changes in malic enzymes and pyruvate orthophosphate dikinase may provide pyruvate for fermentation or even act to regenerate NADP. After fruit transfer to aerobic conditions, no signs of post-anoxia injury were observed and metabolic changes were reversed, with the exception of acetaldehyde levels. The results obtained indicate that peach fruit is an organ with a high capacity for anoxic tolerance, which is in accord with the presence of hypoxic areas inside fruits and the fact that hypoxic pre-treatment improves tolerance to subsequent anoxia.     

八个贵州地方桃品种果实甜酸风味品质分析

为了评价贵州地方桃品种果实的甜酸风味品质,以主栽桃品种‘燕红’作对照,采用高效液相色谱法测定了贵州8个地方桃品种的果肉糖酸组分及含量。结果表明:(1)8个地方桃品种果肉中糖主要由蔗糖、葡萄糖、果糖和山梨醇组成,其中蔗糖的平均含量最高(55.62 mg/g),约占总糖的71.30%,但变异系数仅为17.92%;8个地方桃品种中,‘米桃’的葡萄糖与果糖含量差异较大,其果糖/葡萄糖的比值为1.21,而其它7个品种的葡萄糖与果糖含量相近。(2)8个地方桃品种果肉中有机酸主要由苹果酸、柠檬酸、奎宁酸和莽草酸组成,其中苹果酸含量最高,约占总酸的60.61%,但在‘白花桃’果实中有机酸含量以奎宁酸为主。(3)对8个地方桃品种果实的糖酸组分进行主成分分析发现,苹果酸含量和山梨醇含量的载荷系数分别为0.910和0.897,说明它们是影响果实甜酸风味的主导因素,且对改善果实的甜酸风味品质具有重要作用。8个贵州地方桃果实的甜酸风味分别为:‘黄腊桃’为甜,‘血桃’、‘青桃’、‘镇远桃’、‘红枫桃’为酸甜,‘白花桃’、‘西桃’和‘米桃’为酸。     

Changes in the Mark–Houwink hydrodynamic volume of chitosan molecules in solutions of different organic acids, at different temperatures and ionic strengths

The objective of this study is to explore the cause(s) of changes in the hydrodynamic volume of chitosan molecules in solutions of different organic acids, at different temperatures and ionic strengths. Change in intrinsic viscosity is used as the parameter to elucidate the causes of changes in the hydrodynamic volume of chitosan molecules in these solutions. Results show that the intrinsic viscosity of chitosan decreases in acetic acid or in malic acid over storage time. These decreases are more pronounced in acetic acid solution than in malic acid solution, more significant in higher temperature than in lower temperature solutions, and greater in solutions without NaCl than in solutions containing higher NaCl. The decrease in intrinsic viscosity can perhaps be attributed to the compounded effects of compaction of the chitosan molecules and/or acidic degradation during storage.     

Ripening, storage temperature, ethylene action, and oxidative stress alter apple peel phytosterol metabolism

The chilling conditions of apple cold storage can provoke an economically significant necrotic peel disorder called superficial scald (scald) in susceptible cultivars. Disorder development can be reduced by inhibiting ethylene action or oxidative stress as well as intermittent warming. It was previously demonstrated that scald is preceded by a metabolomic shift that results in altered levels of various classes of triterpenoids, including metabolites with mass spectral features similar to β-sitosterol. In this study, a key class of phytosterol metabolites was identified. Changes in peel tissue levels of conjugates of β-sitosterol and campesterol, including acylated steryl glycosides (ASG), steryl glycosides (SG) and steryl esters (SE), as well as free sterols (FS), were determined during the period of scald development. Responses to pre-storage treatment with the ethylene action inhibitor, 1-methylcyclopropene, or an antioxidant (diphenylamine), rapid temperature elevation, and cold acclimation using intermittent warming treatments were evaluated. Diphenylamine, 1-MCP, and intermittent warming all reduced or prevented scald development. ASG levels increased and SE levels decreased in untreated control fruit during storage. Removing fruit from cold storage to ambient temperature induced rapid shifts in ASG and SE fatty acyl moieties from unsaturated to saturated. FS and SG levels remained relatively stable during storage but SG levels increased following a temperature increase after storage. ASG, SE, and SG levels did not increase during 6 months cold storage in fruit subjected to intermittent warming treatment. Overall, the results show that apple peel phytosteryl conjugate metabolism is influenced by storage duration, oxidative stress, ethylene action/ripening, and storage temperature.     

Temperature and enzymic control of malate metabolism in berries of Vitis vinifera

The specific activities of grape enzymes concerned with malic acid metabolism were determined at various stages of berry development under two temperature regimes. It was found that the lower acidity levels occurring in high temperature grapes at maturity are due to a changed pattern in acid breakdown rather than to reduced malic acid accumulation. The differences in acid disappearance cannot be explained by a shift in relative enzyme activities towards malate consumption with rising temperature.     

Variation in fatty acid composition of apples in relation to soft scald

The distribution of fatty acids within individual fruits was uneven early in storage. When soft scald developed in the fruit, the affected tissue contained less linoleic acid than sound tissue. Differences in fatty acid composition were also found between freshly harvested fruit from different trees within an orchard. Apples that were stored at O° had a low linoleic acid content during the early weeks of storage when the fruit are susceptible to the disorder but the content then increased substantially during subsequent storage. It seems that a low linoleic acid content renders the fruit more susceptible to soft scald.     

Response of Tomato Sugar and Acid Metabolism and Fruit Quality under Different High Temperature and Relative Humidity Conditions

The combined stress of high temperature and high relative air humidity is one of the most serious agrometeorological disasters that restricts the production capacity of protected agriculture. However, there is little information about the precise interaction between them on tomato fruit quality. The objectives of this study were to explore the effects of the combined stress of high temperature and relative humidity on the sugar and acid metabolism and fruit quality of tomato fruits, and to determine the best relative air humidity for fruit quality under high temperature environments. Four temperature treatments (32°C, 35°C, 38°C, 41°C), three relative air humidity (50%, 70%, 90%) and four duration (3, 6, 9, 12 d) orthogonal experiments were conducted, with 28°C, 50% as control. The results showed that under high temperature and relative air humidity, the activity of sucrose metabolizing enzymes in young tomato fruits changed, which reduced fruits soluble sugar content; in addition, enzyme activities involved phosphopyruvate carboxylase (PEPC), mitochondria aconitase (MDH) and citrate synthetase (CS) increased which increased the content of organic acids (especially malic acid). Eventually, vitamin C, total sugar and sugar-acid ratio decreased significantly, while the titratable acid increased, resulting in a decrease in fruit flavor quality and nutritional quality in ripe fruit. Specifically, a temperature of 32°C and a relative air humidity of 70% were the best cultivation conditions for tomato reproductive growth period under high temperature. Our results indicating that fruit quality reduced under high temperature at the flowering stage, while increasing the relative air humidity to 70% could alleviate this negative effect. Our results are benefit to better understand the interaction between microclimate parameters under specific climatic conditions in the greenhouse environment and their impact on tomato flavor quality.     

河西走廊不同产地‘赤霞珠’酿酒葡萄果实品质评价

为了确定河西走廊地区‘赤霞珠’酿酒葡萄核心品质指标,建立‘赤霞珠’酿酒葡萄品质综合评价模型。从张掖、武威、嘉峪关3个酿酒葡萄主产市的代表性果园采集6份‘赤霞珠’葡萄样品进行品质测定,通过主成分分析和聚类分析法确定‘赤霞珠’葡萄核心品质指标,运用层次分析法确定指标权重并建立‘赤霞珠’葡萄品质综合评价模型。结果表明:(1)不同产地‘赤霞珠’酿酒葡萄品质指标存在明显差异性,张掖市国风葡萄酒庄园的‘赤霞珠’葡萄果糖、蔗糖、草酸、柠檬酸含量均高于其他地区,且可溶性固形物、可溶性糖、总酚、苹果酸含量在各产地中也均保持在最高水平。(2)相关性分析发现,葡萄果实葡萄糖含量与可溶性固形物含量、果糖与可溶性糖含量之间呈极显著正相关,固酸比和糖酸比均与可滴定酸含量呈极显著负相关关系。(3)综合主成分分析、聚类分析和相关性分析结果,确定维生素C(Vc)、单宁、果糖和固酸比是‘赤霞珠’葡萄核心品质指标,应用层次分析法建立了‘赤霞珠’葡萄品质综合评价模型为Y=0.0960×Vc含量+0.1611×单宁含量+0.2771×果糖含量+0.4568×固酸比(各指标含量均经过标准化处理)。研究发现,河西走廊地区‘赤霞珠’葡萄果实品质最佳产地是张掖市,果实Vc、单宁、果糖和固酸比是‘赤霞珠’葡萄的核心品质指标,以其建立的评价模型可用于‘赤霞珠’葡萄品质的综合评价。     

脐橙果实贮藏过程中主要有机物质含量的变化

对朋那脐橙、纽荷尔脐橙和红肉脐橙果实采后室温贮藏过程中主要有机物质含量进行分析,结果表明,贮藏期间,果实可溶性固形物含量10d前略有上升,10d后的变化各品种间有差异;可滴定酸含量显著下降;固酸比显著上升;维生素C含量变化趋势因品种而异;可溶性蛋白质含量在贮藏过程中呈上升趋势。上述各指标在贮藏各时期不同品种间有明显差异。     

Effects of paclobutrazol and chilling temperatures on lipids, antioxidants and ATPase activity of plasma membrane isolated from green bell pepper fruits

The effects of paclobutrazol treatment on plasma membrane lipid composition and ATPase activity of bell pepper fruit ( Capsicum annuum ) subjected to chilling temperatures were assessed. Application of the growth regulator paclobutrazol affected plant growth and fruit morphology. The plants were more compact and the fruits were less elongated than control fruits. There was about 60% more plasma membrane on a fresh weight basis from treated fruits. At harvest there was no difference in sterol to phospholipid ratio, or in phospholipid fatty acid composition of control compared with paclobutrazol treated fruit. However, plasma membrane ATPase acitivity of treated fruit was two times higher than that of control fruit. After storage at chilling temperature (2°C), the control fruit developed more chilling iniury, and had greater weight loss and a higher rate of K⁺ leakage than paclobulrazol treated fruit. Plasma membrane phospholipid content decreased and saturation of phospholipid fatty acids was higher than in control fruit. These two changes were largely absent in plasma membrane from treated fruit. At harvest antioxidant levels in the plasma membrane of paclobutrazol treated peppers were higher than in those of controls and changed little during storage, whereas levels in control fruit plasma membrane decreased 66%. ATPase activity increased and then decreased in control fruit held at low temperature, whereas in treated fruit activity was constant. The protective effect of paclobutrazol against chilling injury of pepper fruit may result from a combination of its effect on fruit morphology, and protection of the lipids against oxidative stress.     

Carbohydrate metabolism of cactus in a desert environment

The concentration of glucan, mucilage, soluble carbohydrates, and malic acid were determined in Opuntia bigelovii Engelm. during a 23-week period. The experiment began during the dry summer by irrigation to stimulate Crassulacean acid metabolism and was followed by 13 weeks of drought. After the 13-week drought period, the plants were irrigated throughout a 10-week period until late December. The maximum level of malic acid determined each day at dawn decreased throughout the drought period and increased after irrigation. High levels of malic acid occurring at dawn are indicative of active Crassulacean acid metabolism. Soluble carbohydrates also decreased during drought and increased after irrigation. Both glucan and mucilage increased slightly for about 9 weeks during the drought period and then began to decrease. Irrigation was accompanied by a further decrease in concentration of glucan and mucilage. Since both glucan and mucilage changed in a similar manner and since their concentrations in the tissue are correlated, it is hypothesized that both function as storage carbohydrates. Whereas glucan is the nocturnal substrate for malic acid synthesis, there are no data to support or refute a similar hypothesis for mucilage.     

Tomato fruit ascorbic acid content is linked with monodehydroascorbate reductase activity and tolerance to chilling stress

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping is a step towards the identification of factors regulating traits such as fruit ascorbic acid content. A previously identified QTL controlling variations in tomato fruit ascorbic acid has been fine mapped and reveals that the QTL has a polygenic and epistatic architecture. A monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR) allele is a candidate for a proportion of the increase in fruit ascorbic acid content. The MDHAR enzyme is active in different stages of fruit ripening, shows increased activity in the introgression lines containing the wild-type ( Solanum pennellii ) allele, and responds to chilling injury in tomato along with the reduced/oxidized ascorbate ratio. Low temperature storage of different tomato introgression lines with all or part of the QTL for ascorbic acid and with or without the wild MDHAR allele shows that enzyme activity explains 84% of the variation in the reduced ascorbic acid levels of tomato fruit following storage at 4 °C, compared with 38% at harvest under non-stress conditions. A role is indicated for MDHAR in the maintenance of ascorbate levels in fruit under stress conditions. Furthermore, an increased fruit MDHAR activity and a lower oxidation level of the fruit ascorbate pool are correlated with decreased loss of firmness because of chilling injury.