Effects of calcium on cell wall metabolism enzymes and expression of related genes associated with peel creasing in Citrus fruits

Fruit peel creasing is a serious pre-harvest physiological disorder in citrus, influencing fruit quality, storage, and yield. Four- and eight-year-old ‘Hongjiang’ oranges grafted onto Canton lemon rootstocks were treated with calcium and calcium inhibitors, respectively, to study the effects of diff...

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Main Authors: Bin Huai, Yunli Wu, Chunhui Liang, Panfeng Tu, Tingting Mei, Anquan Guan, Qing Yao, Juan Li, Jiezhong Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: PeerJ Inc. 2022-12-01
Series:PeerJ
Subjects:
Online Access:https://peerj.com/articles/14574.pdf
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author Bin Huai
Yunli Wu
Chunhui Liang
Panfeng Tu
Tingting Mei
Anquan Guan
Qing Yao
Juan Li
Jiezhong Chen
author_facet Bin Huai
Yunli Wu
Chunhui Liang
Panfeng Tu
Tingting Mei
Anquan Guan
Qing Yao
Juan Li
Jiezhong Chen
author_sort Bin Huai
collection DOAJ
description Fruit peel creasing is a serious pre-harvest physiological disorder in citrus, influencing fruit quality, storage, and yield. Four- and eight-year-old ‘Hongjiang’ oranges grafted onto Canton lemon rootstocks were treated with calcium and calcium inhibitors, respectively, to study the effects of different treatments on fruit creasing rate, mechanical properties of the peel, cell wall metabolism enzyme activities, and the expression of related genes. Foliar application of 0.5% calcium nitrate significantly reduced the fruit creasing rate, while treatment with EGTA and LaCl3, inhibitors of calcium uptake, increased the fruit creasing rate; But the effect of calcium nitrate treatment on changing the mechanical properties of pericarp and inhibiting the activity of hydrolase (PG, Cx and PE) was not very significant. Furthermore, it was observed that the expression levels of genes (PG, Cx, and PE) encoding cell wall-degrading enzymes were significantly lower in the normal fruit peel than in the creased fruit peel. Meanwhile, the expression levels of PG, Cx, and PE were higher in the peel of shaded fruit than in the peel of exposed fruit. During the high incidence period of fruit creasing, calcium nitrate treatment down-regulated the expression of PG, Cx, and PE, while EGTA treatment up-regulated the expression of these genes. In conclusion, foliar spraying of calcium nitrate at the fruit rapid enlargement stage can increase the Ca content in the peel of ‘Hongjiang’ orange and significantly suppress the expression of cell wall degrading enzymes genes (PG, PE and Cx) in ‘Hongjiang’ orange peel during the high occurrence period of fruit creasing, resulting in reducing the occurrence of fruit creasing and cracking.
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spelling doaj.art-64ebc91de8664efebd58a67d51d4a23e2023-12-03T11:39:04ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592022-12-0110e1457410.7717/peerj.14574Effects of calcium on cell wall metabolism enzymes and expression of related genes associated with peel creasing in Citrus fruitsBin Huai0Yunli Wu1Chunhui Liang2Panfeng Tu3Tingting Mei4Anquan Guan5Qing Yao6Juan Li7Jiezhong Chen8South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, ChinaSouth China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, ChinaGuangdong Agriculture Industry Business Polytechnic College, Guangzhou, ChinaZhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, ChinaSouth China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, ChinaLianjiang Fruit Development Center, Lianjiang, ChinaSouth China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, ChinaZhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, ChinaSouth China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, ChinaFruit peel creasing is a serious pre-harvest physiological disorder in citrus, influencing fruit quality, storage, and yield. Four- and eight-year-old ‘Hongjiang’ oranges grafted onto Canton lemon rootstocks were treated with calcium and calcium inhibitors, respectively, to study the effects of different treatments on fruit creasing rate, mechanical properties of the peel, cell wall metabolism enzyme activities, and the expression of related genes. Foliar application of 0.5% calcium nitrate significantly reduced the fruit creasing rate, while treatment with EGTA and LaCl3, inhibitors of calcium uptake, increased the fruit creasing rate; But the effect of calcium nitrate treatment on changing the mechanical properties of pericarp and inhibiting the activity of hydrolase (PG, Cx and PE) was not very significant. Furthermore, it was observed that the expression levels of genes (PG, Cx, and PE) encoding cell wall-degrading enzymes were significantly lower in the normal fruit peel than in the creased fruit peel. Meanwhile, the expression levels of PG, Cx, and PE were higher in the peel of shaded fruit than in the peel of exposed fruit. During the high incidence period of fruit creasing, calcium nitrate treatment down-regulated the expression of PG, Cx, and PE, while EGTA treatment up-regulated the expression of these genes. In conclusion, foliar spraying of calcium nitrate at the fruit rapid enlargement stage can increase the Ca content in the peel of ‘Hongjiang’ orange and significantly suppress the expression of cell wall degrading enzymes genes (PG, PE and Cx) in ‘Hongjiang’ orange peel during the high occurrence period of fruit creasing, resulting in reducing the occurrence of fruit creasing and cracking.https://peerj.com/articles/14574.pdfCitrusCalciumCell wall metabolismFruit creasing
spellingShingle Bin Huai
Yunli Wu
Chunhui Liang
Panfeng Tu
Tingting Mei
Anquan Guan
Qing Yao
Juan Li
Jiezhong Chen
Effects of calcium on cell wall metabolism enzymes and expression of related genes associated with peel creasing in Citrus fruits
PeerJ
Citrus
Calcium
Cell wall metabolism
Fruit creasing
title Effects of calcium on cell wall metabolism enzymes and expression of related genes associated with peel creasing in Citrus fruits
title_full Effects of calcium on cell wall metabolism enzymes and expression of related genes associated with peel creasing in Citrus fruits
title_fullStr Effects of calcium on cell wall metabolism enzymes and expression of related genes associated with peel creasing in Citrus fruits
title_full_unstemmed Effects of calcium on cell wall metabolism enzymes and expression of related genes associated with peel creasing in Citrus fruits
title_short Effects of calcium on cell wall metabolism enzymes and expression of related genes associated with peel creasing in Citrus fruits
title_sort effects of calcium on cell wall metabolism enzymes and expression of related genes associated with peel creasing in citrus fruits
topic Citrus
Calcium
Cell wall metabolism
Fruit creasing
url https://peerj.com/articles/14574.pdf
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