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Evidence of programmed cell death induced by reconditioning after cold stress in cucumber fruit and possible involvement of ethylene
Author(s) -
Chen Xiaohong,
Nie Peng,
Deng Hongjun,
Mi Hongbo,
Hou Xiaorong,
Li Ping,
Mao Linchun
Publication year - 2014
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.6410
Subject(s) - dna laddering , programmed cell death , cucumis , tunel assay , ethylene , horticulture , cold stress , chemistry , apoptosis , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , botany , biochemistry , dna fragmentation , gene , catalysis
BACKGROUND Cucumber fruit is susceptible to chilling injury ( CI ), which could be accelerated significantly with subsequent shelf‐life. This type of CI culminates in deterioration of organs and eventually leads to cell death. In this study, evidence of programmed cell death ( PCD ), involving cell death induced by cold stress, was investigated in cucumber. Harvested cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L. cv. Zhexiu‐1) fruits were stored at 2 °C for 3, 6 or 9 days and subsequently transferred to 20 °C for 2 days . RESULTS Significant cell death acceleration was observed upon reconditioning after 9 days' cold stress when the hallmark of PCD – DNA laddering – was clearly observed. Further evidence of nuclear DNA cleavage was confirmed by the in situ TdT ‐mediated dUTP nick end labeling ( TUNEL ) assay. Chromatin condensation and nucleus distortion were observed by nuclear staining of DPI . Ethylene burst was observed upon reconditioning after 9 days of consecutive cold stress . CONCLUSION The features of PCD process induced by reconditioning after cold stress in cucumber fruit may be mainly attributed to ethylene burst. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry