Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Fruit Maturation (fruit + maturation)
Selected AbstractsSpatio-temporal variation in fruit production and seed predation in a perennial herb influenced by habitat quality and population sizeJOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2008Jon Ågren Summary 1In patchily distributed plant species, seed production is likely to be influenced both by local abiotic factors affecting plant size and conditions for fruit maturation, and by population characteristics affecting the intensity of interactions with mutualists and antagonists. However, the relative importance of these effects is poorly known. 2We used multiple regression and path models to examine the importance of abiotic factors (sun exposure, soil depth) and population characteristics (size, density and connectivity) for variation in flower and fruit production and intensity of seed predation among 39 populations of the long-lived herb Vincetoxicum hirundinaria in three consecutive years. In addition, we manipulated water availability in a field experiment and recorded short-term and long-term effects on fruit output, and conducted a supplemental hand-pollination experiment. 3Flower production varied little, while fruit initiation, fruit abortion and fruit predation varied considerably among years. Sun exposure and soil depth affected fruit production per plant indirectly and positively through their effects on flower number. Population density affected fruit production negatively through its effect on flower number. Both fruit initiation and the proportion of fruits attacked by the tephritid fly Euphranta connexa were related positively to population size. 4The number of full-size fruits per plant was related positively to sun exposure and population size in two years each, and related negatively to population density in one year. However, because of seed predation, the number of intact mature fruits was related significantly to population characteristics in only one of three years. 5The field experiments showed that both shortage of water and insufficient pollination may limit fruit set in V. hirundinaria. 6Synthesis. These results demonstrate that the relative importance of local abiotic conditions and population characteristics may vary considerably along the chain of events from flower formation to intact fruit, and also among years. They further show that, at least in species with a naturally patchy distribution, connectivity may be relatively unimportant for variation in reproductive output compared to effects of habitat quality, population size and density. [source] Comprehensive Analysis of Expressed Sequence Tags from the Pulp of the Red Mutant ,Cara Cara' Navel Orange (Citrus sinensis Osbeck)JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY, Issue 10 2010Jun-Li Ye Expressed sequence tag (EST) analysis of the pulp of the red-fleshed mutant ,Cara Cara' navel orange provided a starting point for gene discovery and transcriptome survey during citrus fruit maturation. Interpretation of the EST datasets revealed that the mutant pulp transcriptome held a high section of stress responses related genes, such as the type III metallothionein-like gene (6.0%), heat shock protein (2.8%), Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (0.8%), late embryogenesis abundant protein 5 (0.8%), etc. 133 transcripts were detected to be differentially expressed between the red mutant and its orange-color wild genotype ,Washington' via digital expression analysis. Among them, genes involved in metabolism, defense/stress and signal transduction were statistical overrepresented. Fifteen transcription factors, composed of NAM, ATAF, and CUC transcription factor (NAC); myeloblastosis (MYB); myelocytomatosis (MYC); basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH); basic leucine zipper (bZIP) domain members, were also included. The data reflected the distinct expression profile and the unique regulatory module associated with these two genotypes. Eight differently expressed genes analyzed in digital were validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. For structural polymorphism, both simple sequence repeats and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) loci were surveyed; dinucleotide presentation revealed a bias toward AG/GA/TC/CT repeats (52.5%), against GC/CG repeats (0%). SNPs analysis found that transitions (73%) outnumbered transversions (27%). Seventeen potential cultivar-specific and 387 heterozygous SNP loci were detected from ,Cara Cara' and ,Washington' EST pool. [source] Review of flavonoids and other phenolics from fruits of different tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cultivarsJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 8 2009Rune Slimestad Abstract BACKGROUND: Tomato, one of the most important vegetables worldwide, contains a range of flavonoids and phenolic acids in addition to lycopene, which are regarded as potentially useful compounds with respect to health benefits. Composition data in fresh tomatoes vary due to genetic and environmental factors and cultural practices. Breeding programs aim to produce tomatoes with enhanced levels of flavonoids and other phenolics. RESULTS: The present paper gives an overview of flavonoids, stilbenoids and other phenolics reported to occur in tomato fruits. Contents are reported for a wide range of cultivars and types. Metabolism of phenolics during fruit maturation and tissue location are described, and an overview of measured contents is given. Effects of environmental conditions and cultural practices are estimated using available literature. Recent literature on transgenic tomatoes is included, and possibilities for regulating phenolic contents in tomatoes are discussed. CONCLUSION: The literature review clearly discloses a rapidly growing interest in flavonoids and other phenolics in tomato fruits and products made thereof. This is particularly connected to the antioxidant properties of these compounds as well as other possible health effects. Choice of cultivar and effects of environment and agronomic practices are important factors with respect to phenolic qualities and quantities of tomatoes. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Erratum: The effects of a seaweed extract in addition to nitrogen and boron fertilization on productivity, fruit maturation, leaf nutritional status and oil quality of the olive (Olea europaea L.) cultivar Koroneiki.JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 7 2009Christos Chatzissavvidis, Eleftheria Tsabolatidou., Ioannis Therios, Maria Tasioula, Vassilios Chouliaras The original article to which this Erratum refers was published in Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 2009: 89: 984,988 [source] Identification of oleuropein oligomers in olive pulp and pomaceJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 10 2006Susana M Cardoso Abstract Analysis of a purified fraction from acetone extracts of olive pulp and pomace by electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MSn) showed the presence of oleuropein oligomers, whose occurrence has not been reported previously in the literature. The main ionic species (m/z 1613) in the ESI-MS spectrum was an oleuropein trimer containing three linkages through the hydroxytyrosol backbone. In both samples, oleuropein dimers (m/z 1075), trimers comprising two hydroxytyrosol linkages (m/z 1615), tetramers (m/z 2153) and pentamers (m/z 2691) were also detected by MS. The occurrence of oleuropein oligomers was also observed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). 13C, 13C distortionless enhancement by polarisation transfer DEPT 90, 13C DEPT 135, gHSQC (heteronuclear single quantum coherence) and gHMBC (heteronuclear multiple bond coherence) spectra showed all carbon and proton resonances of oleuropein with the exception of the low-mobility and asymmetric signals of the aromatic rings. Since mature olives were used in this study, it is possible that the disappearance of oleuropein that has been described to occur with the olive fruit maturation, could be associated with the formation of phenolic oligomers together with lower-molecular-weight compounds resulting from its degradation. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Cloning and some properties of Japanese pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) polyphenol oxidase, and changes in browning potential during fruit maturation,JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 11 2003Makiyo Nishimura Abstract A PCR-amplified genomic DNA fragment encoding Japanese pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) polyphenol oxidase (PPO) was cloned and sequenced. The DNA appears to encode a 66 kDa precursor protein consisting of a 56 kDa mature protein and a 9.5 kDa N-terminal transit peptide. The amino acid sequence showed high homology with apple PPO. The PPO mainly existed as a soluble fraction in cells and was limitedly proteolysed, while the mature form (56 kDa) was detected in plastids. Immature fruits showing high browning potential had high PPO activity and a high level of phenolics, while mature fruits showing little browning had high PPO activity but a low level of phenolics. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Is there limiting similarity in the phenology of fleshy fruits?JOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE, Issue 6 2005K.C. Burns Abstract Question: Is there evidence for limiting similarity in the timing of fruit production by a bird-dispersed plant community? Is the rate of fruit removal in each plant species inversely related to fruit availability in other species? Can simple measurements of fruit phenologies (i.e. temporal changes in fruit availability) obscure important fruit attributes that influence their removal by birds? Location: Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Methods: Periods of fruit availability were measured in ten woody angiosperm species for two years. In the second year, the fate of individual fruits was quantified to disentangle dates of fruit maturation, removal and mortality from measurements of availability. Results: Null model analyses of fruit availability distributions showed no evidence for limiting similarity. However, fruit removal rates of most plant species were correlated with their relative abundance in the community, indicating fruits were removed more rapidly when other fruits were less abundant. Species with similar periods of fruit availability often had different dates of fruit maturation, rates of fruit removal and fruit persistence times, indicating fruit availability measurements can obscure important bird-fruit interactions. Conclusions: Competition for dispersers appears to occur. However, it has not resulted in limiting similarity in fruit availability distributions. A likely explanation for this discrepancy is that fruit availability distributions often confound several important fruit attributes that can independently influence fruit removal by birds. [source] Characterisation and changes in the antioxidant system of chloroplasts and chromoplasts isolated from green and mature pepper fruitsPLANT BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2009M. C. Martí Abstract Purification and characterisation of pepper (Capsicum annuum L) chloroplasts and chromoplasts isolated from commercial green, red and yellow mature fruits were undertaken. Induction of the synthesis of several antioxidants in organelles isolated from mature fruits was found. The ultrastructure of organelles and the presence and activity of SOD isozymes and enzymes involved in the ASC-GSH cycle, together with the non-enzymatic antioxidant content and some oxidative parameters, were analysed. It was found that lipids, rather than proteins, seem to be a target for oxidation in the chromoplasts. The ascorbate and glutathione contents were elicited during differentiation of chloroplasts into chromoplasts in both red and yellow fruits. The activity of SOD and of components of the ASC-GSH cycle was up-regulated, suggesting that these enzymes may play a role in the protection of plastids and could act as modulators of signal molecules such as O2,, and H2O2 during fruit maturation. The presence of an Mn-SOD in chromoplasts isolated from yellow pepper fruits was also investigated in terms of structural and antioxidant differences between the two cultivars. [source] Phenolic compounds in peach (Prunus persica) cultivars at harvest and during fruit maturationANNALS OF APPLIED BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2008C. Andreotti Abstract Six peach and six nectarine cultivars were evaluated for the phenolic content in their pulp and peel tissues. Chlorogenic acid, catechin, epicatechin, rutin and cyanidin-3-glucoside were detected as the main phenolic compounds of ripened fruits. The concentration was always higher in peel tissue, with average values ranging from 1 to 8 mg g,1 dry weight (DW) depending on cultivar. Of the tested varieties, the white-flesh nectarine ,Silver Rome' emerged as the cultivar with the highest amount of total phenolics. Phenolic compounds were also profiled during fruit growth and ripening in the yellow nectarine cv. ,Stark Red Gold', which showed a decreasing concentration during fruit development in both peel and pulp tissues. Average amounts of total phenolics were approximately 25 mg g,1 DW 60 days after full bloom and decreased to 3 mg g,1 DW at ripening in pulp tissue. Differences among peel and pulp composition show the different dietetic and antioxidant potential of fruits consumed unpeeled and peeled. [source] Floral phenology and sex expression in functionally monoecious Rhoiptelea chiliantha (Rhoipteleaceae)BOTANICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, Issue 2 2006SHI-GUO SUN The reproductive ecology of wind-pollinated gynomonoecious species, in which the individual plant produces both female (pistillate) and perfect flowers, has rarely been studied. We examined the floral phenology and reproductive traits in Rhoiptelea chiliantha, described as gynomonoecy, to understand the adaptive significance of this sexual system. This species is a rare tree native to south-western China and northern Vietnam. The flowers are characterized by an anemophilous pollination syndrome, but no insects were observed foraging on them. Perfect flowers have larger tepals but smaller stigmas than female flowers, indicating flower size dimorphism. Floral ratios of female to perfect flowers are stable in different individuals and populations. On individual plants, perfect flowers open first, followed by female flowers, with a 1-week interval. Perfect flowers are protogynous with a 3.7-day interval (neuter phase) between the female phase (1.5 days) and expanded male phase (8.2 days). Both female and perfect flowers exhibit pronounced synchrony in flowering at the levels of inflorescences and individuals. However, flowers on different individuals show asynchronicity in timing of initial blooming. Tracking the process from pollination to fruit maturation, we found that female flowers contributed almost exclusively to seed production, but perfect flowers were sterile (functionally males). Therefore, this plant is functionally monoecious. This finding resolved a puzzle on the occurrence of female flowers in this plant, because previous reports described female flowers as being sterile. As the sex phases were completely separate between individuals, the pattern of floral phenology may ensure that outcrossing strongly predominates. © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2006, 152, 145,151. [source] | ||||||||||