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Apple fruit superficial scald resistance mediated by ethylene inhibition is associated with diverse metabolic processes
Author(s) -
Busatto Nicola,
Farneti Brian,
Commisso Mauro,
Bianconi Martino,
Iadarola Barbara,
Zago Elisa,
Ruperti Benedetto,
Spinelli Francesco,
Zanella Angelo,
Velasco Riccardo,
Ferrarini Alberto,
Chitarrini Giulia,
Vrhovsek Urska,
Delledonne Massimo,
Guzzo Flavia,
Costa Guglielmo,
Costa Fabrizio
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
the plant journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.058
H-Index - 269
eISSN - 1365-313X
pISSN - 0960-7412
DOI - 10.1111/tpj.13774
Subject(s) - sorbitol , vacuole , malus , arabidopsis thaliana , chemistry , biochemistry , ethylene , botany , horticulture , food science , biology , cytoplasm , gene , mutant , catalysis
Summary Fruits stored at low temperature can exhibit different types of chilling injury. In apple, one of the most serious physiological disorders is superficial scald, which is characterized by discoloration and brown necrotic patches on the fruit exocarp. Although this phenomenon is widely ascribed to the oxidation of α‐farnesene, its physiology is not yet fully understood. To elucidate the mechanism of superficial scald development and possible means of prevention, we performed an integrated metabolite screen, including an analysis of volatiles, phenols and lipids, together with a large‐scale transcriptome study. We also determined that prevention of superficial scald, through the use of an ethylene action inhibitor, is associated with the triggering of cold acclimation‐related processes. Specifically, the inhibition of ethylene perception stimulated the production of antioxidant compounds to scavenge reactive oxygen species, the synthesis of fatty acids to stabilize plastid and vacuole membranes against cold temperature, and the accumulation of the sorbitol, which can act as a cryoprotectant. The pattern of sorbitol accumulation was consistent with the expression profile of a sorbitol 6‐phosphate dehydrogenase, MdS6 PDH , the overexpression of which in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants confirmed its involvement in the cold acclimation and freezing tolerance.