Seed-fruit relationships in fleshy fruits: Role of hormones. A review

Abstract

Seeds are known to have significant biological importance in nature, and they have high economic value in agriculture. This review discusses the physiological, biochemical, and hormonal aspects involved in the seed-fruit relationship, highlighting the main implications that seeds have on fruit set and growth, development, and abscission of some fleshy fruits. Fleshy fruits, with the exception of some parthenocarpic species, require pollination and double fertilization for seed formation. This contributes to the stimulation of hormone synthesis for auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, and brassinosteroids. These hormones are required for seed formation and, in turn, for fruit development; and they determine fruit set, final fruit size, fruit shape and quality characteristics in some fruits. This knowledge is necessary for successful management of the cultivation of species producing fleshy fruits.

Analysis of growth and physicochemical changes in apple cv. Anna in a high-altitude tropical climate

“…This remobilization of photoassimilates corresponds to between 40 and 50% of the weight of fruits as reported for mango (Castro Neto and Reinhardt, 2003). However, it is a process that largely depends on the sink activity of fruits, which is influenced by the hormonal synthesis of seeds (Balaguera-López et al, 2020). In apples, miR172 has been associated with the regulation of growth and final fruit size (Yao et al, 2015).…”

Linking pollen limitation and seed dispersal effectiveness

“…According to theoretical models, fruits with more seeds act as reproductive sinks, increasing resource allocation to individual seeds and, consequently, seed mass (Balaguera‐López et al., 2020; Ida et al., 2015). In this case, PL could have a negative impact on seed mass per fruit by reducing the total number seeds, and thus the plant's source‐sink dynamic of energy allocation.…”

“…However, physiological studies, largely focused on crop species, indicate that such effects are likely driven by patterns of hormone secretion during fruit development. Most hormones regulating the differentiation of ovaries into fruits are secreted by seeds ‐especially auxin and gibberellin (Balaguera‐López et al., 2020; Pattinson et al., 2014). Auxin secreted by seeds also boosts ethylene production, another plant hormone directly driving fruit ripening and, consequently, seed development (Balaguera‐López et al., 2020).…”

Aspectos de la fisiología y el cultivo del lulo (Solanum quitoense LAM.) en Colombia: una revisión

“…Se deben escoger plantas madre de óptima calidad y producción para tener buenas semillas y material vegetal. La propagación por semilla es ampliamente utilizada para la reproducción, ya que es el método más eficiente porque genera plantas con mayor desarrollo, anclaje y altura (Balaguera-López et al, 2020); no obstante, genera segregación genética, la cual causa bajas uniformidades fenotípicas. La desinfección de las semillas se puede realizar con productos orgánicos o productos químicos como el carboxin + captan 2 g kg -1 de semilla (Bonnet & Cárdenas, 2012).…”