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Expression profiling of endo‐xylanases during ripening of strawberry cultivars with contrasting softening rates. Influence of postharvest and hormonal treatments
Author(s) -
Hirsch Mailén,
Langer Silvia E,
Marina María,
Rosli Hernán G,
Civello Pedro M,
Martínez Gustavo A,
Villarreal Natalia M
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.10997
Subject(s) - ripening , postharvest , abscisic acid , gibberellin , auxin , fragaria , ethephon , softening , biology , gene expression , horticulture , botany , chemistry , ethylene , gene , biochemistry , statistics , mathematics , catalysis
BACKGROUND Softening is one of the main features that determine fruit quality during strawberry ( Fragaria x ananassa , Duch.) ripening and storage. Being closely related to textural changes, the molecular and biochemical bases underlying strawberry cell‐wall metabolism is a matter of interest. Here we investigated the abundance of transcripts encoding putative strawberry endo‐xylanases in plant tissues, during fruit ripening and under postharvest and hormonal treatments. Total xylanase activity and expression of related genes in strawberry varieties with contrasting firmness were analyzed. RESULTS FaXynA and FaXynC mRNA abundance was significantly higher than FaXynB in each plant tissue studied. Higher total xylanase activity was detected at the end of the ripening of the softer cultivar (‘Toyonoka’) in comparison with the firmer one (‘Camarosa’), correlating with the abundance of FaXynA and FaXynC transcripts. Postharvest 1‐methylcyclopropene treatment up‐regulated FaXynA and FaXynC expressions. FaXynC mRNA abundance decreased with heat treatment but the opposite was observed for FaXynA . Calcium chloride treatment down‐regulated FaXynA and FaXynC expression. Both genes responded differently to plant growth regulators' exposure. FaXynC expression was down‐regulated by auxins and gibberellins treatment and up‐regulated by abscisic acid. FaXynA was up‐regulated by auxins, while no changes in mRNA levels were evident by abscisic acid and gibberellins treatment. Ethephon exposure did not change FaXynA and FaXynC expressions. CONCLUSION New knowledge about the presence of xylanases in ripening strawberry fruit and their response to postharvest and hormonal treatments is provided. Our findings suggest a role for endo‐xylanases in hemicelluloses depolymerization and possibly in strawberry fruit softening. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry