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Ripening Control and Induction of the Defence and Antioxidant Systems

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2017) | Viewed by 55592

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fresh fruits have limited postharvest storage life due to acceleration of quality losses, affecting some parameters, such as colour, texture, total soluble solids, and total acidity, as well as the increase of their susceptibility to fungal decay, which have been attributed to the evolution of the ripening process after harvest. The overall process of fruit ripening can be considered as a functionally-modified protracted form of senescence, associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, such as superoxide radical (O2˙), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and hydroxyl radical (OH˙), which are inevitably generated in plant cells as a consequence of normal metabolism (in reactions catalysed by oxidases, lipoxygenase andß-oxidation of fatty acids). These ROS are scavenged in plant cell by antioxidant compounds (such as phenolics, tocopherols, carotenoids and ascorbic acid) and by antioxidant enzymes including mainly superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). Thus, occurrence of increased content of antioxidant compounds and antioxidant enzymes could lead to a delay of the fruit postharvest ripening process and maintain fruit quality attributes for longer periods.

In this Special Issue, pre and postharvest treatments focused on reducing the levels of superoxide free radical through  higher activity of SOD, CAT, and APX antioxidant enzymes and/or antioxidant compounds will be discussed with the aim of reducing the post-harvest ripening process and maintaining fruit quality after harvesting.

Dr. María Serrano
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Fruit ripening
  • Postharvest quality
  • Antioxidant enzymes
  • Antioxidant compounds

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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1130 KiB  
Article
Enhancement of Antioxidant Systems and Storability of Two Plum Cultivars by Preharvest Treatments with Salicylates
by Alejandra Martínez-Esplá, María Serrano, Daniel Valero, Domingo Martínez-Romero, Salvador Castillo and Pedro J. Zapata
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(9), 1911; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18091911 - 06 Sep 2017
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 4460
Abstract
In this research the effect of salicylic acid (SA), acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), and methylsalicylate (MeSA) treatments, applied as a foliar spray during on-tree plum development, on fruit quality attributes, bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity, and the activity of the antioxidant enzymes at harvest and [...] Read more.
In this research the effect of salicylic acid (SA), acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), and methylsalicylate (MeSA) treatments, applied as a foliar spray during on-tree plum development, on fruit quality attributes, bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity, and the activity of the antioxidant enzymes at harvest and after long-term cold storage was evaluated in two plum cultivars (“Black Splendor”, BS, and “Royal Rosa”, RR). At harvest, plum quality parameters, such as weight, total phenolics (including anthocyanins, in BS), total carotenoids, and antioxidant activity, in both hydrophilic and lipophilic compounds were found at higher levels in plums from SA-, ASA-, and MeSA-treated trees than in those from control trees. During storage, fruit firmness, total acidity, and antioxidant compounds were at higher levels in treated, than in control, plums, which show an effect of salicylate treatments on delaying the plum postharvest ripening process. In addition, the activity of the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were also enhanced at the time of harvest in salicylate-treated plums as compared with plums from control trees. The activity of these antioxidant enzymes was also found at higher levels in salicylate-treated plums during storage. Thus, preharvest treatment with salicylates could be a safe, eco-friendly, and new tool to improve and maintain plum quality attributes, and especially their content of antioxidant compounds, with an additional effect on delaying the postharvest ripening process through increasing the levels of antioxidant compounds and the activity of the antioxidant enzymes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ripening Control and Induction of the Defence and Antioxidant Systems)
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4605 KiB  
Article
Independent Preharvest Applications of Methyl Jasmonate and Chitosan Elicit Differential Upregulation of Defense-Related Genes with Reduced Incidence of Gray Mold Decay during Postharvest Storage of Fragaria chiloensis Fruit
by Gabriela M. Saavedra, Eugenio Sanfuentes, Pablo M. Figueroa and Carlos R. Figueroa
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(7), 1420; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18071420 - 03 Jul 2017
Cited by 33 | Viewed by 6205
Abstract
The Chilean strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis) fruit has interesting organoleptic properties, but its postharvest life is affected by gray mold decay caused by Botrytis cinerea. The effect of preharvest applications of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) or chitosan on the molecular defense-related responses [...] Read more.
The Chilean strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis) fruit has interesting organoleptic properties, but its postharvest life is affected by gray mold decay caused by Botrytis cinerea. The effect of preharvest applications of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) or chitosan on the molecular defense-related responses and protection against gray mold decay were investigated in Chilean strawberry fruit during postharvest storage. Specifically, we inoculated harvested fruit with B. cinerea spores and studied the expression of genes encoding for the pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins β-1,3-glucanases (FcBG2-1, FcBG2-2 and FcBG2-3) and chitinases (FcCHI2-2 and FcCHI3-1), and for polygalacturonase inhibiting proteins (FcPGIP1 and FcPGIP2) at 0, 2, 24, 48, and 72 h post inoculation (hpi). Remarkably, MeJA- and chitosan-treated fruit exhibited a lower incidence of B. cinerea infection than the control-treated at 48 and 72 hpi. At the molecular level, both are efficient elicitors for priming in F. chiloensis fruit since we observed an upregulation of the FcBG2-1, FcBG2-3, FcPGIP1, and FcPGIP2 at 0 hpi. Moreover, a chitosan-mediated upregulation of FcPGIPs at early times post inoculation (2–24 hpi) and MeJA upregulated FcBGs (24–72 hpi) and FcPGIP1 at later times could contribute to reduce B. cinerea incidence by differential upregulation of defense genes. We concluded that preharvest applications of MeJA or chitosan had a long-lasting effect on the reduction of B. cinerea incidence during postharvest as well as an enhancer effect on the induction of PR and PGIP gene expression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ripening Control and Induction of the Defence and Antioxidant Systems)
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2208 KiB  
Article
Expression Profiling of Strawberry Allergen Fra a during Fruit Ripening Controlled by Exogenous Auxin
by Misaki Ishibashi, Hiroki Yoshikawa and Yuichi Uno
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(6), 1186; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18061186 - 02 Jun 2017
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 7677
Abstract
Strawberry fruit contain the allergenic Fra a proteins, members of the pathogenesis-related 10 protein family that causes oral allergic syndrome symptoms. Fra a proteins are involved in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway, which might be important for color development in fruits. Auxin is an [...] Read more.
Strawberry fruit contain the allergenic Fra a proteins, members of the pathogenesis-related 10 protein family that causes oral allergic syndrome symptoms. Fra a proteins are involved in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway, which might be important for color development in fruits. Auxin is an important plant hormone in strawberry fruit that controls fruit fleshiness and ripening. In this study, we treated strawberry fruits with exogenous auxin or auxin inhibitors at pre- and post-harvest stages, and analyzed Fra a transcriptional and translational expression levels during fruit development by real-time PCR and immunoblotting. Pre-harvest treatment with 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) alone did not affect Fra a expression, but applied in conjunction with achene removal NAA promoted fruit pigmentation and Fra a protein accumulation. The response was developmental stage-specific: Fra a 1 was highly expressed in immature fruit, whereas Fra a 2 was expressed in young to ripe fruit. In post-harvest treatments, auxin did not contribute to Fra a induction. Auxin inhibitors delayed fruit ripening; as a result, they seemed to influence Fra a 1 expression. Thus, Fra a expression was not directly regulated by auxin, but might be associated with the ripening process and/or external factors in a paralog-specific manner. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ripening Control and Induction of the Defence and Antioxidant Systems)
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2226 KiB  
Article
Characterization of Starch Degradation Related Genes in Postharvest Kiwifruit
by Xiong Hu, Sheng Kuang, Ai-Di Zhang, Wang-Shu Zhang, Miao-Jin Chen, Xue-Ren Yin and Kun-Song Chen
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2016, 17(12), 2112; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms17122112 - 15 Dec 2016
Cited by 47 | Viewed by 5654
Abstract
Starch is one of the most important storage carbohydrates in plants. Kiwifruit typically accumulate large amounts of starch during development. The fruit retain starch until commercial maturity, and its postharvest degradation is essential for consumer acceptance. The activity of genes related to starch [...] Read more.
Starch is one of the most important storage carbohydrates in plants. Kiwifruit typically accumulate large amounts of starch during development. The fruit retain starch until commercial maturity, and its postharvest degradation is essential for consumer acceptance. The activity of genes related to starch degradation has, however, rarely been investigated. Based on the kiwifruit genome sequence and previously reported starch degradation-related genes, 17 novel genes were isolated and the relationship between their expression and starch degradation was examined using two sets of materials: ethylene-treated (100 µL/L, 20 °C; ETH) vs. control (20 °C; CK) and controlled atmosphere stored (CA, 5% CO2 + 2% O2, 0 °C) vs. normal atmosphere in cold storage (NA, 0 °C). Physiological analysis indicated that ETH accelerated starch degradation and increased soluble solids content (SSC) and soluble sugars (glucose, fructose and sucrose), while CA inhibited starch reduction compared with NA. Using these materials, expression patterns of 24 genes that may contribute to starch degradation (seven previously reported and 17 newly isolated) were analyzed. Among the 24 genes, AdAMY1, AdAGL3 and AdBAM3.1/3L/9 were significantly induced by ETH and positively correlated with starch degradation. Furthermore, these five genes were also inhibited by CA, conforming the likely involvement of these genes in starch degradation. Thus, the present study has identified the genes with potential for involvement in starch degradation in postharvest kiwifruit, which will be useful for understanding the regulation of kiwifruit starch content and metabolism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ripening Control and Induction of the Defence and Antioxidant Systems)
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18641 KiB  
Article
Identification and Expression Analysis of Polygalacturonase Family Members during Peach Fruit Softening
by Ming Qian, Yike Zhang, Xiangyan Yan, Mingyu Han, Jinjin Li, Fang Li, Furui Li, Dong Zhang and Caiping Zhao
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2016, 17(11), 1933; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms17111933 - 18 Nov 2016
Cited by 48 | Viewed by 5874
Abstract
Polygalacturonase (PG) is an important hydrolytic enzyme involved in pectin degradation during fruit softening. However, the roles of PG family members in fruit softening remain unclear. We identified 45 PpPG genes in the peach genome which are clustered into six subclasses. PpPGs consist [...] Read more.
Polygalacturonase (PG) is an important hydrolytic enzyme involved in pectin degradation during fruit softening. However, the roles of PG family members in fruit softening remain unclear. We identified 45 PpPG genes in the peach genome which are clustered into six subclasses. PpPGs consist of four to nine exons and three to eight introns, and the exon/intron structure is basically conserved in all but subclass E. Only 16 PpPG genes were expressed in ripening fruit, and their expression profiles were analyzed during storage in two peach cultivars with different softening characteristics. Eight PGs (PpPG1, -10, -12, -13, -15, -23, -21, and -22) in fast-softening “Qian Jian Bai” (QJB) fruit and three PGs (PpPG15, -21, and -22) in slow-softening “Qin Wang” (QW) fruit exhibited softening-associated patterns; which also were affected by ethylene treatment. Our results suggest that the different softening characters in QW and QJB fruit is related to the amount of PG members. While keeping relatively lower levels during QW fruit softening, the expression of six PGs (PpPG1, -10, -12, -11, -14, and -35) rapidly induced by ethylene. PpPG24, -25 and -38 may not be involved in softening of peach fruit. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ripening Control and Induction of the Defence and Antioxidant Systems)
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7364 KiB  
Article
Comparative Transcriptional Analysis of Loquat Fruit Identifies Major Signal Networks Involved in Fruit Development and Ripening Process
by Huwei Song, Xiangxiang Zhao, Weicheng Hu, Xinfeng Wang, Ting Shen and Liming Yang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2016, 17(11), 1837; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms17111837 - 04 Nov 2016
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5599
Abstract
Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) is an important non-climacteric fruit and rich in essential nutrients such as minerals and carotenoids. During fruit development and ripening, thousands of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from various metabolic pathways cause a series of physiological and biochemical [...] Read more.
Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) is an important non-climacteric fruit and rich in essential nutrients such as minerals and carotenoids. During fruit development and ripening, thousands of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from various metabolic pathways cause a series of physiological and biochemical changes. To better understand the underlying mechanism of fruit development, the Solexa/Illumina RNA-seq high-throughput sequencing was used to evaluate the global changes of gene transcription levels. More than 51,610,234 high quality reads from ten runs of fruit development were sequenced and assembled into 48,838 unigenes. Among 3256 DEGs, 2304 unigenes could be annotated to the Gene Ontology database. These DEGs were distributed into 119 pathways described in the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database. A large number of DEGs were involved in carbohydrate metabolism, hormone signaling, and cell-wall degradation. The real-time reverse transcription (qRT)-PCR analyses revealed that several genes related to cell expansion, auxin signaling and ethylene response were differentially expressed during fruit development. Other members of transcription factor families were also identified. There were 952 DEGs considered as novel genes with no annotation in any databases. These unigenes will serve as an invaluable genetic resource for loquat molecular breeding and postharvest storage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ripening Control and Induction of the Defence and Antioxidant Systems)
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Review

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1260 KiB  
Review
Modulatory Effects of Exogenously Applied Polyamines on Postharvest Physiology, Antioxidant System and Shelf Life of Fruits: A Review
by Sunil Sharma, Sunil Pareek, Narashans Alok Sagar, Daniel Valero and Maria Serrano
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(8), 1789; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18081789 - 17 Aug 2017
Cited by 48 | Viewed by 7470
Abstract
Polyamines (PAs) are natural compounds involved in many growth and developmental processes in plants, and, specifically in fruits, play a vital role regulating its development, ripening and senescence processes. Putrescine (PUT), spermine (SPE), and spermidine (SPD) are prominent PAs applied exogenously to extend [...] Read more.
Polyamines (PAs) are natural compounds involved in many growth and developmental processes in plants, and, specifically in fruits, play a vital role regulating its development, ripening and senescence processes. Putrescine (PUT), spermine (SPE), and spermidine (SPD) are prominent PAs applied exogenously to extend shelf life of fruits. They also originate endogenously during developmental phases of horticultural crops and simultaneously affect the quality attributes and shelf life. Their anti-ethylene nature is being exploited to enhance the shelf life when exogenously applied on fruits. In growth and development of fruits, PA levels generally fall, which marks the beginning of senescence at postharvest phase. PUT, SPE and SPD treatments are being applied during postharvest phase to prolong the shelf life. They enhance the shelf life of fruits by reducing respiration rate, ethylene release and enhance firmness and quality attributes in fruits. PAs have a mitigating impact on biotic and abiotic stresses including chilling injury (CI) in tropical and sub-tropical fruits. PAs are environment friendly in nature and are biodegradable without showing any negative effect on environment. Biotechnological interventions by using chimeric gene constructs of PA encoding genes has boosted the research to develop transgenic fruits and vegetables which would possess inherent or in situ mechanism of enhanced biosynthesis of PAs at different stages of development and thereby will enhance the shelf life and quality in fruits. Internal and external quality attributes of fruits are improved by modulation of antioxidant system and by strengthening biophysical morphology of fruits by electrostatic interaction between PAs and phospholipids in the cell wall. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ripening Control and Induction of the Defence and Antioxidant Systems)
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339 KiB  
Review
Oxidative Stress Associated with Chilling Injury in Immature Fruit: Postharvest Technological and Biotechnological Solutions
by Juan Luis Valenzuela, Susana Manzano, Francisco Palma, Fátima Carvajal, Dolores Garrido and Manuel Jamilena
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18(7), 1467; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms18071467 - 08 Jul 2017
Cited by 100 | Viewed by 11851
Abstract
Immature, vegetable-like fruits are produced by crops of great economic importance, including cucumbers, zucchini, eggplants and bell peppers, among others. Because of their high respiration rates, associated with high rates of dehydration and metabolism, and their susceptibility to chilling injury (CI), vegetable fruits [...] Read more.
Immature, vegetable-like fruits are produced by crops of great economic importance, including cucumbers, zucchini, eggplants and bell peppers, among others. Because of their high respiration rates, associated with high rates of dehydration and metabolism, and their susceptibility to chilling injury (CI), vegetable fruits are highly perishable commodities, requiring particular storage conditions to avoid postharvest losses. This review focuses on the oxidative stress that affects the postharvest quality of vegetable fruits under chilling storage. We define the physiological and biochemical factors that are associated with the oxidative stress and the development of CI symptoms in these commodities, and discuss the different physical, chemical and biotechnological approaches that have been proposed to reduce oxidative stress while enhancing the chilling tolerance of vegetable fruits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ripening Control and Induction of the Defence and Antioxidant Systems)
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