Molecular programme of senescence in dry and fleshy fruits

Abstract

Fruits of angiosperms can be divided into dry and fleshy fruits, depending on their dispersal strategies. Despite their apparently different developmental programmes, researchers have attempted to compare dry and fleshy fruits to establish analogies of the distinct biochemical and physiological processes that occur. But what are the common and specific phenomena in both biological strategies? Is valve dehiscence and senescence of dry fruits comparable to final ripening of fleshy fruits, when seeds become mature and fruits are competent for seed dispersal, or to over-ripening when advanced senescence occurs? We briefly review current knowledge on dry and fleshy fruit development, which has been extensively reported recently, and is the topic of this special issue. We compare the processes taking place in Arabidopsis (dry) and tomato (fleshy) fruit during final development steps using transcriptome data to establish possible analogies. Interestingly, the transcriptomic programme of Arabidopsis silique shares little similarity in gene number to tomato fruit ripening or over-ripening. In contrast, the biological processes carried out by these common genes from ripening and over-ripening programmes are similar, as most biological processes are shared during both programmes. On the other hand, several biological terms are specific of Arabidopsis and tomato ripening, including senescence, but little or no specific processes occur during Arabidopsis and tomato over-ripening. These suggest a closer analogy between silique senescence and ripening than over-ripening, but a major common biological programme between Arabidopsis silique senescence and the last steps of tomato development, irrespective of its distinction between ripening and over-ripening.

Mitochondrial ascorbate–glutathione cycle and proteomic analysis of carbonylated proteins during tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit ripening

“…This posttranslational modification (PTM) has been recently described as involved in pepper fruit ripening affecting specific mitochondrial proteins (Camejo, Jiménez, Palma, & Sevilla, 2015). Mitochondrial ROS used to be considered as undesirable products with deleterious effects that affected organelle integrity; however, currently an increasing number of publications recognize ROS implications in many cellular processes, including their role as signaling molecules under oxidative stress conditions (Gómez, Vera-Sirera, & Pérez-Amador, 2014;Schwarzländer & Finkemeier, 2013). There is still very little information on ROS functions, their targets as signaling molecules and on the mitochondrial antioxidant response during tomato fruit ripening.…”

Fruit Development and Ripening

“…These ideas were hinted at in the 2002 Special Issue and strong supporting evidence is now presented consistent with dehiscence and ripening sharing a common origin and being parallel, rather than completely different processes. María Dolores Gómez and colleagues, also from Valencia, explore and develop for us further ideas about the similarities and differences between the mechanistic basis of 'ripening' and 'over-ripening' in dry and fleshy fruits including comparing the transcriptomes of senescent and ripening Arabidopsis siliques and tomato berries (Gómez et al, 2014).Molecular networks controlling the ripening of fleshy fruits are also the focus of reviews by scientists from a range of European and South American laboratories (Karlova et al, 2014;Kuhn et al, 2014). Karlova and colleagues present the stateof-the-art for the model fleshy fruit, tomato, and bring to our attention recent discoveries relating to the role of the epigenome in controlling the ripening process.…”

“…These ideas were hinted at in the 2002 Special Issue and strong supporting evidence is now presented consistent with dehiscence and ripening sharing a common origin and being parallel, rather than completely different processes. María Dolores Gómez and colleagues, also from Valencia, explore and develop for us further ideas about the similarities and differences between the mechanistic basis of 'ripening' and 'over-ripening' in dry and fleshy fruits including comparing the transcriptomes of senescent and ripening Arabidopsis siliques and tomato berries (Gómez et al, 2014).…”

Transcriptional Dynamics and Candidate Genes Involved in Pod Maturation of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

“…Studies on the Arabidopsis and tomato model species have significantly advanced the current understanding of molecular and genetic basis that control dry and fleshy fruit development, respectively [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Thus, despite the differences between dry and fleshy fruit developmental patterns, strong similarities have been found in the molecular circuits governing their development and maturation programs, indicating that fruit regulatory networks are conserved across a broad spectrum of angiosperms [1,2]. Among these conserved physiological and metabolic processes, the decay on photosynthesis and translation ribosome machinery led to the deactivation of green stage-related processes and the production of secondary color nuña bean.…”