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Huang H, Yan J, Yan H, Jiang B. Chemical compositions and cryo-adhesive probing of the epicuticular wax crystals on fruit surface of wax gourd (Benincasa hispida). Food Chem 2024; 441:138277. [PMID: 38176138 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.138277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Surface wax crystals play important roles in protecting plants from pest and disease invasions, and UV irradiation. The wax crystals are less probed individually from the fruit surfaces. Herein the morphologies, chemicals and an efficient method to sample the wax blooms of white wax gourd were addressed. Various crystalloids such as rodlets, platelets, fragments, and granules were observed, which stacked as fine wax film covering on wax gourd fruit surface. The wax blooms were effectively removed by cryo-adhesive after consecutive manipulating set by a high-end device with cylinders. Wax crystals were dominated by triterpenols and triterpenol acetates over 61 % of total crystals, followed by vey-long-chain aliphatics. Accordingly, the high-end device with cryo-adhesive provides an efficient approach to selectively probe the wax crystals from those fruits covering wax blooms. The elucidation of morphologies and chemical compositions of wax crystals may help to better understand their regulations on fruit quality traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Huang
- Institute of Fruit Tree Research, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of South Subtropical Fruit Biology and Genetic Resource Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Tree Research, Guangzhou, 510640, China.
| | - Jinqiang Yan
- Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huaxue Yan
- Institute of Fruit Tree Research, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of South Subtropical Fruit Biology and Genetic Resource Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Tree Research, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Biao Jiang
- Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Key Laboratory for New Technology Research of Vegetables, Guangzhou, China
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2
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Qin K, Ge S, Xiao G, Chen F, Ding S, Wang R. 1-MCP treatment improves the postharvest quality of Jinxiu yellow peach by regulating cuticular wax composition and gene expression during cold storage. J Food Sci 2024; 89:2787-2802. [PMID: 38563098 DOI: 10.1111/1750-3841.17049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
This study aimed to analyze the effect of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) treatment on the postharvest quality, epidermal wax morphology, composition, and gene expression of Jinxiu yellow peach during cold storage. The results showed that 1-MCP treatment could maintain the postharvest quality of peach fruit as compared to control (CK) during cold storage. The wax crystals of peach fruit were better retained by 1-MCP, and they still existed in 0.6 and 0.9 µL/L 1-MCP treated fruit at 36 days. The total wax content in all the fruit increased first and then decreased during cold storage. Meanwhile, n-alkanes and primary alcohols were the main wax components. Compared to CK, 1-MCP treatment could delay the reduction of wax content during cold storage. The correlation analysis indicated that the postharvest quality of yellow peach was mainly affected by the contents of fatty acids and triterpenoids in cuticular wax. The transcriptomics results revealed PpaCER1, PpaKCS, PpaKCR1, PpaCYP86B1, PpaFAR, PpaSS2, and PpaSQE1 played the important roles in the formation of peach fruit wax. 1-MCP treatment upregulated PpaCER1 (18785414, 18786441, and 18787644), PpaKCS (18774919, 18789438, and 18793503), PpaKCR1 (18790432), and PpaCYP86B1 (18789815) to deposit more n-alkanes and fatty acids during cold storage. This study could provide a new perspective for regulating the postharvest quality of yellow peach in view of the application of cuticular wax. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: 'Jinxiu' yellow peach fruit is favorable among consumers because of its high commercial value. However, it ripens and deteriorates rapidly during storage, leading to serious economic loss and consumer disappointment. The effect of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) treatment on the postharvest quality, epidermal wax morphology, composition, and genes regulation of 'Jinxiu' yellow peach during cold storage was assessed. Compared to control, 1-MCP treatment could retain the storage quality of yellow peach by affecting cuticular wax composition and gene expression. This study could provide new perspective for regulating the postharvest quality of yellow peach in view of the application of cuticular wax.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keying Qin
- College of Food Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Shuai Ge
- Longping Branch, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha, China
- Hunan Agricultural Product Processing Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha, China
| | - Guangjian Xiao
- College of Food Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Fei Chen
- College of Food Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Shenghua Ding
- Longping Branch, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha, China
- Hunan Agricultural Product Processing Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha, China
| | - Rongrong Wang
- College of Food Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
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3
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Wu S, Li X, Jiang J, Huang H, Cheng X, Li G, Shan Y, Zhu X. Reveal the relationship between the quality and the cuticle composition of Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu) by postharvest heat treatment. J Food Sci 2023; 88:4879-4891. [PMID: 37876294 DOI: 10.1111/1750-3841.16803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
To investigate the influence of heat treatment (HT) on Satsuma mandarin fruit's postharvest quality and cuticle composition, we immersed the fruit for 3 min in hot water at 52°C and subsequently stored them at room temperature (25°C) for 28 days, and fruit quality parameters, such as good fruit rate, weight loss rate, firmness, total soluble solids, total titratable acidity, and ascorbic acid content, were monitored. Additionally, changes in the peel's cuticle composition were analyzed, and wax crystal morphologies on the fruit surface were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The findings revealed that appropriate HT effectively preserved fruit quality. The main compositions of wax and cutin on the fruit's surface remained consistent between the HT and the CK during storage. The total content of wax and cutin initially increased, peaking on the 14th day of storage, and then decreased, falling below the levels observed on day 0. Notably, the total amount of cutin in the HT group exceeded that of the control group. Specifically, ω-hydroxy fatty acids with mid-chain oxo groups and mid-oh-ω-hydroxy fatty acids constituted approximately 90% of the total cutin content. Moreover, the HT group exhibited higher (p < 0.05) total wax content in relation to the control. Fatty acids and alkanes were the predominant components, accounting for approximately 87.5% of the total wax. SEM analysis demonstrated that HT caused wax crystals to melt and redistribute, effectively filling wax gaps. It suggests that HT holds promising potential as a green, safe, and eco-friendly commercial treatment for preserving the postharvest quality of Satsuma mandarin. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: In this study, Satsuma citrus (Citrus unshiu) underwent heat treatment (HT) and was subsequently preserved at room temperature (25°C) for 28 days. The findings revealed that HT significantly improved fruit quality compared to the control group. These findings provide valuable insights into the advancement of eco-friendly and pollution-free citrus preservation methods, offering essential strategies and process parameters for their practical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sisi Wu
- Longping Branch, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha, China
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Fruits and Vegetables Storage Processing and Quality Safety, Changsha, China
| | - Xiang Li
- Hunan Agricultural Product Processing Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha, China
- Hunan Province International Joint Laboratory on Fruits and Vegetables Processing Quality and Safety, Changsha, China
| | - Jing Jiang
- Longping Branch, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha, China
- Hunan Agricultural Product Processing Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha, China
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Fruits and Vegetables Storage Processing and Quality Safety, Changsha, China
| | - Hua Huang
- Hunan Agricultural Product Processing Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha, China
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Fruits and Vegetables Storage Processing and Quality Safety, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaomei Cheng
- Hunan Agricultural Product Processing Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha, China
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Fruits and Vegetables Storage Processing and Quality Safety, Changsha, China
| | - Gaoyang Li
- Longping Branch, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha, China
- Hunan Agricultural Product Processing Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha, China
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Fruits and Vegetables Storage Processing and Quality Safety, Changsha, China
| | - Yang Shan
- Longping Branch, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha, China
- Hunan Agricultural Product Processing Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha, China
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Fruits and Vegetables Storage Processing and Quality Safety, Changsha, China
- Hunan Province International Joint Laboratory on Fruits and Vegetables Processing Quality and Safety, Changsha, China
| | - Xiangrong Zhu
- Longping Branch, College of Biology, Hunan University, Changsha, China
- Hunan Agricultural Product Processing Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha, China
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Fruits and Vegetables Storage Processing and Quality Safety, Changsha, China
- Hunan Province International Joint Laboratory on Fruits and Vegetables Processing Quality and Safety, Changsha, China
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4
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Composition, metabolism and postharvest function and regulation of fruit cuticle: A review. Food Chem 2023; 411:135449. [PMID: 36669336 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.135449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The cuticle of plants, a hydrophobic membrane that covers their aerial organs, is crucial to their ability to withstand biotic and abiotic stressors. Fruit is the reproductive organ of plants, and an important dietary source that can offer a variety of nutrients for the human body, and fruit cuticle performs a crucial protective role in fruit development and postharvest quality. This review discusses the universality and diversity of the fruit cuticle composition, and systematically summarizes the metabolic process of fruit cuticle, including the biosynthesis, transport and regulatory factors (including transcription factors, phytohormones and environmental elements) of fruit cuticle. Additionally, we emphasize the postharvest functions and postharvest regulatory technologies of fruit cuticle, and propose future research directions for fruit cuticle.
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5
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Zhu S, Huang S, Lin X, Wan X, Zhang Q, Peng J, Luo D, Zhang Y, Dong X. The Relationships between Waxes and Storage Quality Indexes of Fruits of Three Plum Cultivars. Foods 2023; 12:foods12081717. [PMID: 37107512 PMCID: PMC10137498 DOI: 10.3390/foods12081717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In the present study, the cuticular wax morphology, composition and the relationship with storage quality in three plum cultivars of Prunus salicina 'Kongxin' (KXL), Prunus salicina 'Fengtang' (FTL) and Prunus salicina 'Cuihong' (CHL) were investigated during storage at room temperature of 25 ± 1 °C. The results illustrated that the highest cuticular wax concentration was discovered in KXL, followed by FTL and the lowest in CHL. The fruit wax composition of the three plum cultivars was similar and principally composed of alkanes, alcohols, fatty acids, ketones, aldehydes, esters, triterpenes and olefins. Alcohols, alkanes and triterpenes were the dominant fruit wax compounds of the three plum cultivars. After storage for 20 d at room temperature, the variation of cuticular wax crystal structure and composition showed significant cultivar-associated differences. The total wax content decreased for FTL and CHL and increased for KXL, and the wax crystal degraded and melted together over time. The higher contents of the main components in the three plum cultivars were nonacosane, 1-triacontanol, 1-heneicosanol, nonacosan-10-one, octacosanal, ursolic aldehyde and oleic acid. Alcohols, triterpenes, fatty acids and aldehydes were most dramatically correlated with the softening of fruit and storage quality, and alkanes, esters and olefins were most significantly correlated with the water loss. Nonacosane and ursolic aldehyde can enhance the water retention of fruit. Overall, this study will provide a theoretical reference for the further precise development of edible plum fruit wax.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shouliang Zhu
- Guizhou Workstation for Fruit and Vegetables, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Shian Huang
- Fruit Crops Center of Guizhou Engineering Research, College of Agricultural, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
- Guiyang Agricultural Reclamation Investment Development Group Co., Ltd., Guiyang 550001, China
| | - Xin Lin
- Fruit Crops Center of Guizhou Engineering Research, College of Agricultural, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Xuan Wan
- Fruit Crops Center of Guizhou Engineering Research, College of Agricultural, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Qin Zhang
- Fruit Crops Center of Guizhou Engineering Research, College of Agricultural, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Junsen Peng
- Fruit Crops Center of Guizhou Engineering Research, College of Agricultural, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Dengcan Luo
- Fruit Crops Center of Guizhou Engineering Research, College of Agricultural, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Yun Zhang
- Fruit Crops Center of Guizhou Engineering Research, College of Agricultural, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Xiaoqing Dong
- Fruit Crops Center of Guizhou Engineering Research, College of Agricultural, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
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6
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Marinov O, Nomberg G, Sarkar S, Arya GC, Karavani E, Zelinger E, Manasherova E, Cohen H. Microscopic and metabolic investigations disclose the factors that lead to skin cracking in chili-type pepper fruit varieties. HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2023; 10:uhad036. [PMID: 37799628 PMCID: PMC10548408 DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhad036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
The hydrophobic cuticle encasing the fruit skin surface plays critical roles during fruit development and post-harvest. Skin failure often results in the fruit surface cracking and forming a wound-periderm tissue made of suberin and lignin. The factors that make the fruit skin susceptible to cracking have yet to be fully understood. Herein, we investigated two varieties of chili peppers (Capsicum annuum L.), Numex Garnet, whose fruit has intact skin, and Vezena Slatka, whose fruit has cracked skin. Microscopical observations, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, biochemical and gene expression assays revealed that Vezena Slatka fruit form a thicker cuticle with greater levels of cutin monomers and hydroxycinnamic acids, and highly express key cutin-related genes. The skin of these fruit also had a lower epidermal cell density due to cells with very large perimeters, and highly express genes involved in epidermal cell differentiation. We demonstrate that skin cracking in the Vezena Slatka fruit is accompanied by a spatial accumulation of lignin-like polyphenolic compounds, without the formation of a typical wound-periderm tissues made of suberized cells. Lastly, we establish that skin cracking in chili-type pepper significantly affects fruit quality during post-harvest storage in a temperature-dependent manner. In conclusion, our data highlight cuticle thickness and epidermal cell density as two critical factors determining fruit skin susceptibility to cracking in chili-type pepper fruit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ofir Marinov
- Department of Vegetable and Field Crops, Institute of Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Gal Nomberg
- Department of Vegetable and Field Crops, Institute of Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Sutanni Sarkar
- Department of Vegetable and Field Crops, Institute of Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Gulab Chand Arya
- Department of Vegetable and Field Crops, Institute of Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel
| | - Eldad Karavani
- Department of Vegetable and Field Crops, Institute of Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel
| | - Einat Zelinger
- Center for Scientific Imaging (CSI), The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Ekaterina Manasherova
- Department of Vegetable and Field Crops, Institute of Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel
| | - Hagai Cohen
- Department of Vegetable and Field Crops, Institute of Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO), Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel
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7
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Lin X, Huang S, Huber DJ, Zhang Q, Wan X, Peng J, Luo D, Dong X, Zhu S. Melatonin Treatment Affects Wax Composition and Maintains Storage Quality in 'Kongxin' Plum ( Prunus salicina L. cv) during Postharvest. Foods 2022; 11:foods11243972. [PMID: 36553714 PMCID: PMC9778571 DOI: 10.3390/foods11243972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cuticular wax is an essential barrier against biological and abiotic stress and is also an important factor affecting fruit storage quality. This paper investigated the effect of melatonin treatment on cuticular wax and the storage quality of plum fruit at low temperature storage of 4 ± 1 °C. 'Kongxin' plum was treated with 150 μmol·L-1 melatonin, dried overnight at room temperature 25 ± 1 °C, and then stored at 4 ± 1 °C for 40 d. The microstructure of the fruit epidermis was examined after 0, 20, and 40 d of storage, and the wax composition and fruit storage quality were measured at 10 d intervals. The results demonstrated that melatonin promoted the disintegration and thickening of rod-shaped waxy crystals of 'Kongxin' plum fruit and inhibited the combination of disintegrated wax and inner wax. Melatonin maintained fruit firmness and decreased the correlation between fruit firmness and other storage quality parameters. The correlation between firmness and wax composition was enhanced. Melatonin promoted long-chain alkanes that were positively correlated with firmness and water retention and strengthened the correlation between the length of the alkane chain and storage quality parameters but reduced the difference between alkane isomers and storage quality parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Lin
- Fruit Crops Center of Guizhou Engineering Research, College of Agricultural, Guizhou University, Guizhou 550025, China
| | - Shian Huang
- Fruit Crops Center of Guizhou Engineering Research, College of Agricultural, Guizhou University, Guizhou 550025, China
- Guiyang Agricultural Reclamation Investment Development Group Co., Ltd., Guizhou 550001, China
| | - Donald J. Huber
- Horticultural Sciences Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0690, USA
| | - Qin Zhang
- Fruit Crops Center of Guizhou Engineering Research, College of Agricultural, Guizhou University, Guizhou 550025, China
| | - Xuan Wan
- Fruit Crops Center of Guizhou Engineering Research, College of Agricultural, Guizhou University, Guizhou 550025, China
| | - Junsen Peng
- Fruit Crops Center of Guizhou Engineering Research, College of Agricultural, Guizhou University, Guizhou 550025, China
| | - Dengcan Luo
- Fruit Crops Center of Guizhou Engineering Research, College of Agricultural, Guizhou University, Guizhou 550025, China
| | - Xiaoqing Dong
- Fruit Crops Center of Guizhou Engineering Research, College of Agricultural, Guizhou University, Guizhou 550025, China
- Correspondence: (X.D.); (S.Z.)
| | - Shouliang Zhu
- Guizhou Workstation for Fruit and Vegetables, Guizhou 550025, China
- Correspondence: (X.D.); (S.Z.)
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8
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Si Y, Lv T, Li H, Liu J, Sun J, Mu Z, Qiao J, Bu H, Yuan H, Wang A. The molecular mechanism on suppression of climacteric fruit ripening with postharvest wax coating treatment via transcriptome. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:978013. [PMID: 36046594 PMCID: PMC9421051 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.978013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Wax coating is an important means to maintain fruit quality and extend fruit shelf life, especially for climacteric fruits, such as apples (Malus domestica). Here, we found that wax coating could inhibit ethylene production, chlorophyll degradation, and carotenoid synthesis, but the molecular mechanism remains unclear. The regulatory mechanism of wax coating on apple fruit ripening was determined by subjecting wax-treated apple fruits to transcriptome analysis. RNA-seq revealed that 1,137 and 1,398 genes were upregulated and downregulated, respectively. These differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were shown to be related to plant hormones, such as ethylene, auxin, abscisic acid, and gibberellin, as well as genes involved in chlorophyll degradation and carotenoid biosynthesis. Moreover, we found that some genes related to the wax synthesis process also showed differential expression after the wax coating treatment. Among the DEGs obtained from RNA-seq analysis, 15 were validated by quantitative RT-PCR, confirming the results from RNA-seq analysis. RNA-seq and qRT-PCR of pear (Pyrus ussuriensis) showed similar changes after wax treatment. Our data suggest that wax coating treatment inhibits fruit ripening through ethylene synthesis and signal transduction, chlorophyll metabolism, and carotenoid synthesis pathways and that waxing inhibits endogenous wax production. These results provide new insights into the inhibition of fruit ripening by wax coating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajing Si
- Key Laboratory of Fruit Postharvest Biology (Liaoning Province), Key Laboratory of Protected Horticulture (Ministry of Education), National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Northern Horticultural Facilities Design and Application Technology (Liaoning), College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Tianxing Lv
- Liaoning Institute of Pomology, Xiongyue, China
| | - Hongjian Li
- Liaoning Institute of Pomology, Xiongyue, China
| | - Jiaojiao Liu
- Key Laboratory of Fruit Postharvest Biology (Liaoning Province), Key Laboratory of Protected Horticulture (Ministry of Education), National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Northern Horticultural Facilities Design and Application Technology (Liaoning), College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Jiamao Sun
- Key Laboratory of Fruit Postharvest Biology (Liaoning Province), Key Laboratory of Protected Horticulture (Ministry of Education), National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Northern Horticultural Facilities Design and Application Technology (Liaoning), College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Zhaohui Mu
- Key Laboratory of Fruit Postharvest Biology (Liaoning Province), Key Laboratory of Protected Horticulture (Ministry of Education), National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Northern Horticultural Facilities Design and Application Technology (Liaoning), College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Junling Qiao
- Key Laboratory of Fruit Postharvest Biology (Liaoning Province), Key Laboratory of Protected Horticulture (Ministry of Education), National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Northern Horticultural Facilities Design and Application Technology (Liaoning), College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Haidong Bu
- Mudanjiang Branch, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Mudanjiang, China
| | - Hui Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Fruit Postharvest Biology (Liaoning Province), Key Laboratory of Protected Horticulture (Ministry of Education), National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Northern Horticultural Facilities Design and Application Technology (Liaoning), College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Aide Wang
- Key Laboratory of Fruit Postharvest Biology (Liaoning Province), Key Laboratory of Protected Horticulture (Ministry of Education), National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Northern Horticultural Facilities Design and Application Technology (Liaoning), College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
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9
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Zou Y, Wan H, Yang H, Xu R, Xiang Y, Cheng Y. C24 and C26 aldehydes are potential natural additives of coating for citrus water retention. Food Chem 2022; 397:133742. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.133742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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10
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Transcriptome and Physiological Analyses of a Navel Orange Mutant with Improved Drought Tolerance and Water Use Efficiency Caused by Increases of Cuticular Wax Accumulation and ROS Scavenging Capacity. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23105660. [PMID: 35628469 PMCID: PMC9145189 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Drought is one of the main abiotic stresses limiting the quality and yield of citrus. Cuticular waxes play an important role in regulating plant drought tolerance and water use efficiency (WUE). However, the contribution of cuticular waxes to drought tolerance, WUE and the underlying molecular mechanism is still largely unknown in citrus. 'Longhuihong' (MT) is a bud mutant of 'Newhall' navel orange with curly and bright leaves. In this study, significant increases in the amounts of total waxes and aliphatic wax compounds, including n-alkanes, n-primary alcohols and n-aldehydes, were overserved in MT leaves, which led to the decrease in cuticular permeability and finally resulted in the improvements in drought tolerance and WUE. Compared to WT leaves, MT leaves possessed much lower contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), significantly higher levels of proline and soluble sugar, and enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) activities under drought stress, which might reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) damage, improve osmotic regulation and cell membrane stability, and finally, enhance MT tolerance to drought stress. Transcriptome sequencing results showed that seven structural genes were involved in wax biosynthesis and export, MAPK cascade, and ROS scavenging, and seven genes encoding transcription factors might play an important role in promoting cuticular wax accumulation, improving drought tolerance and WUE in MT plants. Our results not only confirmed the important role of cuticular waxes in regulating citrus drought resistance and WUE but also provided various candidate genes for improving citrus drought tolerance and WUE.
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García-Coronado H, Tafolla-Arellano JC, Hernández-Oñate MÁ, Burgara-Estrella AJ, Robles-Parra JM, Tiznado-Hernández ME. Molecular Biology, Composition and Physiological Functions of Cuticle Lipids in Fleshy Fruits. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:plants11091133. [PMID: 35567134 PMCID: PMC9099731 DOI: 10.3390/plants11091133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Fleshy fruits represent a valuable resource of economic and nutritional relevance for humanity. The plant cuticle is the external lipid layer covering the nonwoody aerial organs of land plants, and it is the first contact between fruits and the environment. It has been hypothesized that the cuticle plays a role in the development, ripening, quality, resistance to pathogen attack and postharvest shelf life of fleshy fruits. The cuticle's structure and composition change in response to the fruit's developmental stage, fruit physiology and different postharvest treatments. This review summarizes current information on the physiology and molecular mechanism of cuticle biosynthesis and composition changes during the development, ripening and postharvest stages of fleshy fruits. A discussion and analysis of studies regarding the relationship between cuticle composition, water loss reduction and maintaining fleshy fruits' postharvest quality are presented. An overview of the molecular mechanism of cuticle biosynthesis and efforts to elucidate it in fleshy fruits is included. Enhancing our knowledge about cuticle biosynthesis mechanisms and identifying specific transcripts, proteins and lipids related to quality traits in fleshy fruits could contribute to the design of biotechnological strategies to improve the quality and postharvest shelf life of these important fruit crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heriberto García-Coronado
- Coordinación de Tecnología de Alimentos de Origen Vegetal, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo A.C., Carretera Gustavo Enrique Astiazarán Rosas 46, Hermosillo 83304, Sonora, Mexico;
| | - Julio César Tafolla-Arellano
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular, Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Calzada Antonio Narro 1923, Buenavista, Saltillo 25315, Coahuila, Mexico;
| | - Miguel Ángel Hernández-Oñate
- CONACYT-Coordinación de Tecnología de Alimentos de Origen Vegetal, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo A.C., Carretera Gustavo Enrique Astiazarán Rosas 46, Hermosillo 83304, Sonora, Mexico;
| | - Alexel Jesús Burgara-Estrella
- Departamento de Investigación en Física, Universidad de Sonora, Blvd. Luis Encinas y Rosales S/N, Hermosillo 83000, Sonora, Mexico;
| | - Jesús Martín Robles-Parra
- Coordinación de Desarrollo Regional, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo A.C., Carretera Gustavo Enrique Astiazarán Rosas 46, Hermosillo 83304, Sonora, Mexico;
| | - Martín Ernesto Tiznado-Hernández
- Coordinación de Tecnología de Alimentos de Origen Vegetal, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo A.C., Carretera Gustavo Enrique Astiazarán Rosas 46, Hermosillo 83304, Sonora, Mexico;
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Liu D, Guo W, Guo X, Yang L, Hu W, Kuang L, Huang Y, Xie J, Liu Y. Ectopic Overexpression of CsECR From Navel Orange Increases Cuticular Wax Accumulation in Tomato and Enhances Its Tolerance to Drought Stress. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:924552. [PMID: 35865286 PMCID: PMC9294922 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.924552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Drought stress often occurred in citrus to limit its growth, distribution, and fruit quality. Cuticular waxes play an important role in regulating plant tolerance to drought stress. Plant enoyl-CoA reductase (ECR) is involved in the biosynthesis of cuticular waxes and catalyzes the last step of very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) elongation. In this study, a putative ECR gene, named CsECR, was cloned from "Newhall" navel orange. CsECR protein has high identities with other plant ECR proteins and contained a conserved NADP/NAD-binding motif and three conserved functional sites. The highest expression of CsECR was observed in leaves, followed by stems, flavedos, ovaries, juice sacs, stigmas, stamens, albedos, and petals. Besides, the expression of CsECR was significantly induced by PEG6000 and ABA treatments. Ectopic overexpression of CsECR increased the contents of total waxes and aliphatic wax fractions (n-fatty acids, unsaturated fatty acids, n-alkanes, alkenes, iso-, and anteiso-alkanes) in the leaves and fruits of the transgenic tomato. Furthermore, ectopic overexpression of CsECR reduced the cuticle permeability in the leaves and fruits of the transgenic tomato and increased its tolerance to drought stress. Taken together, our results revealed that CsECR plays an important role in plant response to drought stresses by regulating cuticular wax biosynthesis.
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Huang H, Wang L, Qiu D, Zhang N, Bi F. Changes of Morphology, Chemical Compositions, and the Biosynthesis Regulations of Cuticle in Response to Chilling Injury of Banana Fruit During Storage. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:792384. [PMID: 34956291 PMCID: PMC8703112 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.792384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The plant cuticle covers almost all the outermost surface of aerial plant organs, which play a primary function in limiting water loss and responding to the environmental interactions. Banana fruit is susceptible to thermal changes with chilling injury below 13°C and green ripening over 25°C. Herein, the changes of surface morphology, chemical compositions of cuticle, and the relative expression of cuticle biosynthesis genes in banana fruit under low-temperature storage were investigated. Banana fruit exhibited chilling injury rapidly with browned peel appearance stored at 4°C for 6 days. The surface altered apparently from the clear plateau with micro-crystals to smooth appearance. As compared to normal ones, the overall coverage of the main cuticle pattern of waxes and cutin monomers increased about 22% and 35%, respectively, in browned banana stored under low temperature at 6 days. Fatty acids (C16-C18) and ω-OH, mid-chain-epoxy fatty acids (C18) dominated cutin monomers. The monomers of fatty acids, the low abundant ω, mid-chain-diOH fatty acids, and 2-hydroxy fatty acids increased remarkably under low temperature. The cuticular waxes were dominated by fatty acids (> C19), n-alkanes, and triterpenoids; and the fatty acids and aldehydes were shifted to increase accompanied by the chilling injury. Furthermore, RNA-seq highlighted 111 cuticle-related genes involved in fatty acid elongation, biosynthesis of very-long-chain (VLC) aliphatics, triterpenoids, and cutin monomers, and lipid-transfer proteins were significantly differentially regulated by low temperature in banana. Results obtained indicate that the cuticle covering on the fruit surface was also involved to respond to the chilling injury of banana fruit after harvest. These findings provide useful insights to link the cuticle on the basis of morphology, chemical composition changes, and their biosynthesis regulations in response to the thermal stress of fruit during storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Huang
- Institute of Fruit Tree Research, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of South Subtropical Fruit Biology and Genetic Resource Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Tree Research, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ling Wang
- Sericultural & Agri-Food Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Functional Foods, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Agricultural Products Processing, Guangzhou, China
| | - Diyang Qiu
- Institute of Fruit Tree Research, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of South Subtropical Fruit Biology and Genetic Resource Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Tree Research, Guangzhou, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Institute of Fruit Tree Research, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of South Subtropical Fruit Biology and Genetic Resource Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Tree Research, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fangcheng Bi
- Institute of Fruit Tree Research, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of South Subtropical Fruit Biology and Genetic Resource Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Tree Research, Guangzhou, China
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Liu D, Ma Q, Yang L, Hu W, Guo W, Wang M, Zhou R, Liu Y. Comparative analysis of the cuticular waxes and related gene expression between 'Newhall' and 'Ganqi 3' navel orange during long-term cold storage. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2021; 167:1049-1060. [PMID: 34600182 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2021.09.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Previously, we obtained a wax-deficient mutant 'Ganqi 3' (MT) from 'Newhall' navel orange (Citrus sinensis [L.] Osbeck cv. Newhall, WT). The weight loss and postharvest decay in MT fruit were much higher than those in WT fruit after long-term cold storage. To understand the underlying mechanism, the changes in the morphology, chemical composition and gene expression of cuticular waxes between WT and MT fruit were compared during 150 days of storage at 4 °C. The density of epicuticular wax crystals and the contents of most of the aliphatic wax fractions in MT fruit were much lower than those in WT fruit over 90 days of storage. Further research revealed that the differences in the morphology and chemical composition of cuticular waxes might be important causes for the differences of postharvest weight loss and decay rates between WT and MT fruit. Notably, the expression profiles of 16 wax-related genes in WT and MT fruit were consistent with the change trends of corresponding cuticular wax components during cold storage. These results suggest that the morphology and chemical composition of cuticular waxes may be regulated by wax-related genes and play an important role in regulating the postharvest weight loss and the tolerances to postharvest decay in navel orange.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dechun Liu
- Department of Pomology, College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, China
| | - Qingling Ma
- Department of Pomology, College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, China
| | - Li Yang
- Department of Pomology, College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, China
| | - Wei Hu
- Department of Pomology, College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, China
| | - Wenfang Guo
- Department of Pomology, College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, China
| | - Minli Wang
- Department of Pomology, College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, China
| | - Rui Zhou
- Department of Pomology, College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, China; Conagen Inc., 15 DeAngelo Drive, Bedford, MA 01730, USA
| | - Yong Liu
- Department of Pomology, College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, China.
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Ding S, Zhang J, Yang L, Wang X, Fu F, Wang R, Zhang Q, Shan Y. Changes in Cuticle Components and Morphology of 'Satsuma' Mandarin ( Citrus unshiu) during Ambient Storage and Their Potential Role on Penicillium digitatum Infection. Molecules 2020; 25:E412. [PMID: 31963827 PMCID: PMC7024380 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25020412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
To elucidate the role of fruit cuticle in fungal infection, changes in cuticle composition and morphology of 'Satsuma' mandarin during ambient (at 25 °C) storage and their role in Penicillium digitatum infection were investigated. Results showed that the epicuticular wax yield increased from 1.11 μg cm-2 to 4.21 μg cm-2 during storage for 20 days and then decreased to 1.35 μg cm-2 as storage time prolonged to 40 days. Intracuticular wax content of fruits stored for 20 days showed a peak value that was 1.7-fold higher than that of fruits stored for 40 days. The contents of cutin monomers of fruits showed a decreased trend during storage, while their proportions in the cutin stayed stable. Acids were identified as the most abundant components in epicuticular wax independently of the storage time, followed by alkanes and terpenoids. Terpenoids were found as the predominant components in intracuticular wax during the whole storage, followed by alkanes and acids. The flattened platelets crystals of fruits at harvest changed into small granule-like wax ones after 10 days of storage then gradually distributed across the surface of the fruits as stored for 40 days. Results of in vitro tests showed that mycelial growth of Penicillium digitatum could be promoted by epicuticular wax and conidial germination could be inhibited by cutin at different storage stages. These results shed new light on the chemical basis for cuticle involvement in fungal infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shenghua Ding
- Provincial Key Laboratory for Fruits and Vegetables Storage Processing and Quality Safety, Agricultural Product Processing Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410125, China; (S.D.); (J.Z.); (L.Y.); (X.W.); (F.F.); (Q.Z.)
- Longping Branch Graduate School, Hunan University, Changsha 410125, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Provincial Key Laboratory for Fruits and Vegetables Storage Processing and Quality Safety, Agricultural Product Processing Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410125, China; (S.D.); (J.Z.); (L.Y.); (X.W.); (F.F.); (Q.Z.)
- Longping Branch Graduate School, Hunan University, Changsha 410125, China
| | - Lvzhu Yang
- Provincial Key Laboratory for Fruits and Vegetables Storage Processing and Quality Safety, Agricultural Product Processing Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410125, China; (S.D.); (J.Z.); (L.Y.); (X.W.); (F.F.); (Q.Z.)
- Longping Branch Graduate School, Hunan University, Changsha 410125, China
| | - Xinyu Wang
- Provincial Key Laboratory for Fruits and Vegetables Storage Processing and Quality Safety, Agricultural Product Processing Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410125, China; (S.D.); (J.Z.); (L.Y.); (X.W.); (F.F.); (Q.Z.)
- Longping Branch Graduate School, Hunan University, Changsha 410125, China
| | - Fuhua Fu
- Provincial Key Laboratory for Fruits and Vegetables Storage Processing and Quality Safety, Agricultural Product Processing Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410125, China; (S.D.); (J.Z.); (L.Y.); (X.W.); (F.F.); (Q.Z.)
| | - Rongrong Wang
- College of Food Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
| | - Qun Zhang
- Provincial Key Laboratory for Fruits and Vegetables Storage Processing and Quality Safety, Agricultural Product Processing Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410125, China; (S.D.); (J.Z.); (L.Y.); (X.W.); (F.F.); (Q.Z.)
| | - Yang Shan
- Provincial Key Laboratory for Fruits and Vegetables Storage Processing and Quality Safety, Agricultural Product Processing Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410125, China; (S.D.); (J.Z.); (L.Y.); (X.W.); (F.F.); (Q.Z.)
- Longping Branch Graduate School, Hunan University, Changsha 410125, China
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Romero P, Lafuente MT. Abscisic Acid Deficiency Alters Epicuticular Wax Metabolism and Morphology That Leads to Increased Cuticle Permeability During Sweet Orange ( Citrus sinensis) Fruit Ripening. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:594184. [PMID: 33362823 PMCID: PMC7755607 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.594184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Citrus fruit ripening is coupled with the synthesis and deposition of epicuticular waxes, which reduces water loss during fruit postharvest storage. Although abscisic acid (ABA) is a major regulator of citrus fruit ripening, whether ABA mediates epicuticular wax formation during this process remains poorly understood. We investigated the implication of ABA in cuticle properties and epicuticular wax metabolism, composition, and morphology by comparing the Navelate orange [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck] and its ABA biosynthesis-impaired mutant Pinalate in four ripening stages. ABA deficiency had minor effects on cuticle thickness and epicuticular wax load, but correlated with cuticle permeability. ABA content aligned with mostly fatty acids accumulation in both cultivars, and also with specific alkane, terpenoid, and aldehyde constituents in the parental fruit. In turn, cuticle permeability correlated with the fatty acid profile during fruit ripening in the Navelate and Pinalate, and with primary alcohols, terpenoids, and aldehydes, but only in the mutant fruit. Low ABA levels increased the susceptibility of waxes to crack and were lost from the epicuticular layer. The RNA-seq analysis highlighted the differential regulation of a list of 87 cuticle-related genes between genotypes and ripening stages. Changes in the gene expression of the selected genes in both cultivars were consistent with the content of the aliphatics and terpenoid fractions during ripening. The results suggest a role for ABA in the regulation of fatty acid content and primary alcohol composition, and point out the importance of alkane and triterpenoid for controlling water permeance through fruit cuticles.
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Lara I, Heredia A, Domínguez E. Shelf Life Potential and the Fruit Cuticle: The Unexpected Player. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:770. [PMID: 31244879 PMCID: PMC6581714 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The plant cuticle is an extracellular barrier that protects the aerial, non-lignified parts of plants from the surrounding environment, and furthermore plays important functions in organ growth and development. The role of the cuticle in post-harvest quality of fruits is a topic currently driving a lot of interest since an increasing bulk of research data show its modulating influence on a number of important traits determining shelf life and storage potential, including water transpiration and fruit dehydration, susceptibility to rots, pests and disorders, and even firmness. Moreover, the properties of fruit cuticles keep evolving after harvest, and have also been shown to be highly responsive to the external conditions surrounding the fruit. Indeed, common post-harvest treatments will have an impact on cuticle integrity and performance that needs to be evaluated for a deeper understanding of changes in post-harvest quality. In this review, chemical and biophysical properties of fruit cuticles are summarized. An overview is also provided of post-harvest changes in cuticles and the effects thereupon of some post-harvest procedures, with the purpose of offering a comprehensive summary of currently available information. Identification of natural sources of variability in relevant quality traits would allow breeding for the improvement of post-harvest life of fruit commodities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Lara
- Unitat de Postcollita-XaRTA, AGROTÈCNIO, Departament de Química, Universitat de Lleida, Lleida, Spain
| | - Antonio Heredia
- IHSM La Mayora, Departamento de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Eva Domínguez
- IHSM La Mayora, Departamento de Mejora Genética y Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Málaga, Spain
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