Search and Access Archived Conference Presentations

The 2010 ASHS Annual Conference

3315:
Expression of Ripening-Related Genes as Affected by Chilling in Tomato

Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Springs F & G
Adirek Rugkong, Department of Horticulture, Ithaca, NY
Christopher B. Watkins, Department of Horticulture, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Jocelyn Rose, Depertment of Plant Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
James Giovannoni, USDA–ARS, Boyce Thompson Institute, Ithaca, NY
The effects of chilling on the expression of ripening-related genes has been studied in a tomato (Solanum lycopersicum ´ S. pennelli) introgression line (IL 11-2).  Tomato fruit were harvested at breaker stage of maturity and ripened at 20 oC for 0 to 14 d, or stored at 3 oC for up to 4 weeks, and then ripened at 20 oC. Climacteric ethylene production was increased in fruit stored for 1 week, but reduced in fruit stored for 4 weeks.  Fruit ripening was delayed or inhibited in fruit stored for 2 and 4 weeks as assessed by red color development and softening at 20 °C.  The expression of genes involved in color development, phytoene synthase1 (PSY1), carotenoid isomerase (CRTISO), geranylgeranyl diphosphate synhase 2 (GGPPS2), and 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase (DXS), were reduced by chilling, as was polygalacturonse (PG), pectin esterase1 (PE1), β-galacturonase (TBG4), expansin ( LeExp1), and xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/ hydrolase 5 (XTH5), associated with cell wall-modification, as well as alcohol dehydrogenase 2 (ADH2) and alcohol acyltransferase (AAT). Fruit stored for 1 week showed an increased or unchanged gene expression of aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase genes ACS2, ACS4, whereas reduced ACS2 and ACS4 expression was observed in fruit stored for 4 weeks.  ACO1 expression increased in chilled fruit during cold storage, but decreased after removal to 20 °C.  Fruit stored for 1 and 2 weeks showed a transient increase in NR expression, while the reduced NR expression was observed in fruit stored for 4 weeks through ripening. In contrast, LeETR1 was induced by chilling during cold storage, and then decreased after removal to 20 °C.  Reduced LeETR4 expression was observed in fruit stored for 4 weeks, while fruit stored for 1 and 2 weeks showed slightly reduced LeETR4 during early state of ripening.  The expression of LeCTR1 was induced during cold storage, but the expression levels decreased after removal to 20 °C.  The expression of LeMADS-RIN, encoding a ripening-specific transcription factor Le-MADS-RIN, was increased after 1 week of cold storage but was reduced after 4 weeks.  Fruit stored for 4 weeks showed reduced LeMADS-RIN expression during ripening, while fruit stored for 1 week showed reduced LeMADS-RIN after 3 d of ripening.