Richardson AC, Boldingh HL, McAtee PA, Gunaseelan K, Luo Z, Atkinson RG, David KM, Burdon JN, Schaffer RJ. Fruit development of the diploid kiwifruit, Actinidia chinensis 'Hort16A'.
BMC Plant Biol 2011;
11:182. [PMID:
22204446 PMCID:
PMC3261216 DOI:
10.1186/1471-2229-11-182]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2011] [Accepted: 12/28/2011] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
With the advent of high throughput genomic tools, it is now possible to undertake detailed molecular studies of individual species outside traditional model organisms. Combined with a good understanding of physiological processes, these tools allow researchers to explore natural diversity, giving a better understanding of biological mechanisms. Here a detailed study of fruit development from anthesis through to fruit senescence is presented for a non-model organism, kiwifruit, Actinidia chinensis ('Hort16A').
RESULTS
Consistent with previous studies, it was found that many aspects of fruit morphology, growth and development are similar to those of the model fruit tomato, except for a striking difference in fruit ripening progression. The early stages of fruit ripening occur as the fruit is still growing, and many ripening events are not associated with autocatalytic ethylene production (historically associated with respiratory climacteric). Autocatalytic ethylene is produced late in the ripening process as the fruit begins to senesce.
CONCLUSION
By aligning A. chinensis fruit development to a phenological scale, this study provides a reference framework for subsequent physiological and genomic studies, and will allow cross comparison across fruit species, leading to a greater understanding of the diversity of fruits found across the plant kingdom.
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