Effects and Mechanism of 1-Methylcyclopropene and Ethephon on Softening in Ailsa Craig Tomato Fruit

Abstract

Studies were conducted to determine the efficacy and mechanism of 1methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and ethephon on softening of Ailsa Craig tomato fruit. Ethylene production, reduction of fruit firmness and protopectin content were suppressed in fruit exposed to 1.0 mL/L 1-MCP. Comparing with control fruit, the climacteric ethylene peak was delayed by approximately 12 d and polygalacturonase activity was strongly inhibited in 1.0 mL/L 1-MCP treated fruit. On the other hand, ethylene production, reduction of fruit firmness, protopectin content and polygalacturonase activity of 100 mL/L ethephon treated fruit were strongly promoted compared with these indexes of untreated fruit. Moreover, electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay proved that the expression of PG and tomato fruit softening was regulated by the transcription activator RIN. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSThe RIN transcription factor plays an indispensable role in fruit ripening and softening. According to the physiological index of tomato fruit under varied concentrations of 1-MCP and ethephon, optimal concentrations of 1-MCP and ethephon would be used for further studies and industrial applications. Furthermore our study clearly showed RIN transcription factor directly regulated the expression of PG. Since the importance of polygalacturonase (PG) activity and indispensable role of RIN during the process of fruit softening, it suggested that RIN affects tomato fruit softening via directly acting on PG. It provides new clues to understand the molecular mechanism of fruit softening. To sum, these results will help to further clarify the mechanism of tomato fruit softening, and to maintain the quality and prolong the shelf life of tomato fruit.

Ethylene Control Technologies in Extending Postharvest Shelf Life of Climacteric Fruit

“…Abdi, McGlasson, Holford, Williams, and Mizrahi found that 1-MCP effectively delayed the ripening process of plums, and a single application of 1-MCP would suffice for nonclimacteric plum cultivar, while a continuous low dose of 1-MCP would be needed for the climacteric cultivar to reach a similar result. Other researches have shown a similar result. − 1-MCP was also applied to other fruit, including banana, − apple, − pear, − mango, , kiwifruit, − durian, , peach, tomato, pitahaya, nectarine, mulberry, and medlar . These studies support the conclusion that 1-MCP is effective to prolong the shelf life of these fruits.…”

“…Other researches have shown a similar result. 49−51 1-MCP was also applied to other fruit, including banana, 52−54 apple, 55−62 pear, 63−68 mango, 69,70 kiwifruit, 71−73 durian, 74,75 peach, 76 tomato, 77 pitahaya, 78 nectarine, 79 mulberry, 80 and medlar. 81 These studies support the conclusion that 1-MCP is effective to prolong the shelf life of these fruits.…”

Ethylene Perception Is Associated with Methyl-Jasmonate-Mediated Immune Response against Botrytis cinerea in Tomato Fruit

“…1-MCP reportedly influenced ethylene biosynthesis by blocking ethylene perception in tomato fruit, which exerted a feedback to downregulate the expression of SlACS2, SlACS4, SlACO1, and SlACO4. 41,42 However, activating ethylene biosynthesis was considered a primary defense response induced by MeJA, and inhibiting ethylene production could effectively disturb MeJA-induced resistance against B. cinerea. 13,14 In agreement with previous reports, our present study showed that 1-MCP exerted a negative impact and MeJA exerted a positive impact on the stimulation of ethylene production (p < 0.05; Figure 2A).…”

The Effect of Application of Ethephon to Processing Tomato Plants on the Chemical Composition of Fruits

“…Ethylene, produced autocatalytically as a result of expression of two key enzymes ACC syntase (ACS) and ACC oksydase (ACO) (Lelievre et al, 1997) in climacteric fruits, is received by receptors activating hundreds of genes, leading to chlorophyll degradation and synthesis of other pigments (carotenoids and anthocyanins), conversion of starches to sugars, and production of aromatic compounds and numerous secondary metabolites (Payasi and Sanwal, 2010). Changes in the firmness of tomatoes under the influence of ethephon should be associated with an increase of the activity of polygalacturonase and degradation of protopectin in cell wall (Li et al, 2016).…”