No abstract

Fruit abscission is a complex physiological process that is regulated by internal and environmental factors. During early development, apple fruit are exposed to extreme temperature fluctuations that are associated with premature fruit drop; however, their effect on fruit abscission is largely unknown. We hypothesized that fruit abscission is triggered by cold stress and investigated the molecular basis of premature fruit drop using RNA-Seq and metabolomics data from apple fruit undergoing abscission following cold stress in the field. Genes responsive to abscisic acid signaling and cell wall degradation were upregulated during abscission, consistent with the increased abscisic acid concentrations detected by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. We performed ex vivo cold shock experiments with excised tree subunits consisting of a branch, pedicel, and fruit. Abscission induction occurred in the cold-stressed subunits with concurrent upregulation of abscisic acid biosynthesis (MdNCED1) and metabolism (MdCYP707A) genes, and ethylene biosynthesis (MdACS1) and receptor (MdETR2) genes in the pedicel. Another key finding was the activation of cytoplasmic streaming in abscission-zone cells detected by electron microscopy. Our results provide a novel insight into the molecular basis of fruit abscission physiology in response to cold stress in apple.

Research Report키큰방추형 '후지'/M.9 사과나무의 영양생장, 생산성 및 과실품질 Abstract: Well-feathered (over 10 feathers) 'Fuji'/M.9 apple trees were planted at 3.0 × 1.0 m and trained to slender spindle with 2.5 m height or to tall spindle with 3.5 m height, and the vegetative growth, productivity, and fruit quality of two training systems were compared for 8 years. The canopy volume of the tall spindle trees surpassed that of the slender spindle trees 4 years after planting and was 25% larger than that of the slender spindle trees 5 years after planting. The accumulated yield over 8 years for the tall spindle system was 14% higher than that of the slender spindle system. Alternate bearing and incidence of marssonina blotch were observed in both treatments after 5 years of planting. There was often vegetative imbalance in the trees however, the degree of yield loss and vegetative imbalance of the tall spindle trees was lower than those of the slender spindle trees. Soluble solid content and fruit red color of the tall spindle trees were higher than that of the slender spindle trees in 5 year after planting, resulting from increased light penetration in the canopy due to even distribution of lateral branches and from fruit bearing in different height locations of the trees. In conclusion, increasing the tree height to about 3.5 m using slender spindle 'Fuji'/M.9 apple trees planted with over 333 trees per 10a led to better light penetration, yield and fruit quality compared to a conventional wide training system with the slender spindle.Additional key words: accumulated yield, canopy volume, feather location in canopy, Malus domestica Borkh., slender spindle *Corresponding author: tmyoon@knu.ac.kr † These authors contributed equally to this work.※

Abstract. This study investigated the influence of seasonal incidence and defoliation degree caused by Marssonina blotch (Diplocarpon mali Harada et Sawamura) on shoot growth and fruit quality of 'Fuji'/M.9 apple tree. The occurrence of marssonina blotch in Gunwi region was observed from the mid of July 2009, and percentage of defoliation was about 10% in the end of October. In 2010, that started in the early of June. By the end of September, percentage of defoliation was 20% and it reached 50% in late October. Secondary growth of terminal shoot in 2010 was three times as much as that in 2009. In 2009, the soluble solid contents and the red color (hunter a value) during fruit maturation increased to 13.8 °Brix and 16.2, respectively. In 2010, the soluble solid content during fruit maturation remained in the 12.1-12.6 °Brix range after early October, and the red color began to increase after the end of September when the percentage of defoliation was 20%. As for fruit quality by defoliation degree, the red color decreased when defoliation percentage of bourse shoot at the end of October was more than 30%. Fruit weight and soluble solids also decreased when defoliation percentage was more than 50%. Fruit length and diameter of over 30% defoliation treatments begun to decrease after the middle of August, compared with those of under 30% defoliation treatment. Photosynthetic rate of the leaves that was located at the secondary growth of bourse shoot was similar to that of leaves which was located at the middle of bourse shoot. However, the size and the soluble solid content of fruit were not affected by photosynthesis activities of bourse shoot leaves which was develop in the secondary shoot growth.

Anthocyanin accumulation is responsible for the red color of the skin of apple fruits (Malus × domestica Borkh.). Environmental stimuli, such as light, temperature, soil factors, tree factors, and the application of chemicals can alter the synthesis of anthocyanins. Herein, we examined the expression of genes related to anthocyanin biosynthesis in the fruit of apple cultivars, 'Summer Prince' and 'Arisoo' at the early stage of fruit development 60 DAFB (days after full bloom). The expression of genes, which included structural and regulatory genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis, and light-responsive genes was determined in fruits developed under the effect of sunlight exposure for seven days. Apple fruits were divided in to: 'reflected sunlight', 'bagged', and 'control' groups. The expression levels of the anthocyanin synthesis-related genes were significantly different among the groups and between the shaded and reflected sides. We also determined the difference in coloration patterns in the different groups using the colorimetric coordinates method. The shaded side of apple fruits quickly turned more redder after exposure to reflected sunlight and the coloration was almost similar to that on the exposed side after the treatment. Strong correlation coefficients between anthocyanin-related gene expression levels and coloration patterns were obtained. This study shows that sunlight plays an important role in stimulating the coloration of apple fruit by regulating the expression of genes involved in anthocyanin accumulation during the early stage of fruit development. The present study assumes importance because redder fruits, generated through a non-transgenic approach would be more acceptable to consumers.