Ethylene Evolution and 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate Oxidase Gene Expression during Early Development and Ripening of Peach Fruit

Abstract

<jats:p>The rate of ethylene biosynthesis was monitored throughout the four stages (S1, S2, S3, and S4) of peach (<jats:italic>Prunus persica</jats:italic> L. Batsch `Springcrest') fruit development. The highest values of ethylene production were detected during the early S1 and at ripening. During S1, the increase in the evolution of ethylene was accompanied by high activity of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase (ACO). A weak accumulation of ACO mRNA was detected in developing fruitlets, indicating that ACO may play a specific role in modulating the rate of ethylene biosynthesis during the early growth stage. When fruitlets harvested at S1 were flushed with propylene (500 mL·L<jats:sup>-1</jats:sup>) for 48 h, a two-fold increase of ethylene biosynthesis and a dramatic induction of ACO activity were observed. Treatment with the ethylene analogue greatly stimulated the expression of ACO gene(s). During ripening, the climacteric occurred when fruit had softened to ≈20 N. This process was preceded by an increase in ACC content and ACO activity in the mesocarp. ACO transcripts began to accumulate before the rise in whole-fruit ethylene biosynthesis with peak levels coincident with the climacteric when the highest values of ACO activity were detected. Propylene greatly enhanced ACO gene expression and stimulated the ripening-associated ethylene climacteric. ACO-related transcripts also accumulated in fruit treated with nitrogen for 72 hours.</jats:p>

Flower fertilization and fruit development prompt changes in free polyamines and ethylene in damson plum (Prunus insititia L.)

“…Ethylene production in S1 is perhaps needed for regulating the abundant cell division characterizing early fruit growth. Results similar to ours have been reported in peach (Miller and Walsh, 1990;Tonutti et al, 1997). However, due to the small fruit size (recently fertilized ovary), we were unable to determine the part of the fruit in S1 that was directly involved in this notable production of ethylene.…”

Cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenases in the mesocarp of ripening fruit of Prunus persica genotypes with different flesh characteristics: changes in activity and protein and transcript levels

“…Growth of peach fruit (spring‐summer season of 2012) was monitored at regular intervals starting at 35 days after full bloom (DAFB). Growth stages were defined according to Tonutti et al (). At the desired times, fruits (at least eight fruits per each of the five plants of each cultivar considered per each ripening stage) were picked and quickly transferred to the laboratory for the determination of weight and ripening parameters (flesh firmness, epicarp color, total soluble solids contents and ethylene emission).…”

“…Many of these enzyme activities appear to be affected by the plant regulator ethylene (Kirch et al , Mita et al ), deeply involved in the control of ripening in climacteric fruits, a category to which peach belongs (Tonutti et al , ).…”

Increased levels of IAA are required for system 2 ethylene synthesis causing fruit softening in peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch)

“…During peach fruit ripening, the amounts of Pp ACS1 and Pp ACO1 transcripts and protein increase significantly, and the enzymes are responsible for the large amount of ethylene production during ripening (Callahan et al, 1992; Lester et al, 1994; Tonutti et al, 1997). Furthermore, these enzymes are also induced in wounded tissues such as leaves and pre-climacteric fruit (Mathooko et al, 2001; Tatsuki et al, 2006).…”