Fruit softening correlates with enzymatic activities and compositional changes in fruit cell wall during growing in Lycium barbarum L.

Abstract

Summary The present study aims to examine fruit cell wall‐associated fruit softening in Lycium barbarum L. by the microstructure of the fruit cells and the changes in the contents of cell wall components, molecular weights of cell wall polysaccharides and the activities of related cell wall degrading enzymes at different development stages of L. barbarum L. fruit. Fruit firmness significantly declined during ripening, with the greatest reduction between the 28 and 35 days stages. The decrease in firmness correlated with an extensively deformed microstructure in the parenchyma tissues and positively correlated with reductions in the contents of fruit cell wall materials and molecular weight in cell wall polysaccharide. Cellulase, α‐galactosidase, polygalactosidase and pectin methylesterase showed higher activities during 28 days; whereas, the activities of β‐galactosidase were higher during 35 days. These results indicate that cell wall‐related processes are a key feature of early softening in L. barbarum L.

Identification of the cell wall proteins associated with the softening of Lycium barbarum L. fruit by using iTRAQ technology

“…1 ). This is consistent with a previous study ( Liu et al, 2021 ), and suggests that exploring the reasons for the reduction in cell wall materials is important in revealing fruit softening. In addition, glucose-6p isomerase, glucose-1-phosphate phosphodismutase, aconitate hydratase, citrate synthase, malate dehydrogenase and β-glucosidase involved in glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, pentose phosphate pathway, pyruvate metabolism, citrate cycle (tca cycle) energy metabolism processes, were also significantly up-regulated ( P < 0.05).…”

“…Lycium barbarum L. (LBL) is a typical melting flesh fruit that undergoes rapid ripening prior to harvest. Unfortunately, this softening is negative for the LBL and can reduce the nutritional and sensory qualities of the fruit ( Liu et al, 2020 , Liu et al, 2021 , Liu et al, 2020 ). The characteristics of fruit softening differ among species and cultivars, and are largely determined by cell wall modifications that are generally attributed to the disassembly of the cellulose and hemicellulose network through depolymerization of pectin and hemicellulose ( Chea et al, 2019 ).…”

Comparative Analysis of Akebia trifoliata Fruit Softening at Different Flesh Ripening Stages Using Tandem Mass Tag Technology

“…Moreover, protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum, citrate cycle (TCA cycle), valine, leucine, and isoleucine degradation, and amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism were the enriched pathways in both HR_UR and FR_HR groups. Additionally, previous studies indicated that proteins/genes related to cell wall metabolism, stress and defense responses, and plant hormones might play key roles in fruit ripening and softening ( 9 , 22 , 24 ). Cluster analysis involving cell wall metabolism, stress and defense responses, and plant hormones was therefore performed.…”

Identification of key enzymes involved in the accumulation of carotenoids during fruit ripening of Lycium barbarum L. by a proteomic approach

“…Lycium barbarum L., belonging to the genus Lycium of the family Solanaceae (Xie et al, 2016a), is a perennial deciduous shrub and has a high medicinal value (Liu et al, 2021). L. barbarum is rich in polysaccharides, flavonoids, carotenoids, betaine and other bioactive compounds (Amagase and Farnsworth 2011) and displays different colours at different ripening stages by the accumulation of different kinds of carotenoids (Tanaka et al, 2008;Wang et al, 2020;Fang et al, 2020).…”

“…Lycium barbarum L., belonging to the genus Lycium of the family Solanaceae (Xie et al ., 2016a), is a perennial deciduous shrub and has a high medicinal value (Liu et al ., 2021). L .…”