The Response of Tomato Fruit Cuticle Membranes Against Heat and Light

Two important biophysical properties, the thermal and UV-Vis screening capacity, of isolated tomato fruit cuticle membranes (CM) have been studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and UV-Vis spectrometry, respectively. A first order melting, corresponding to waxes, and a second order glass...

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Main Authors: José J. Benítez, Ana González Moreno, Susana Guzmán-Puyol, José A. Heredia-Guerrero, Antonio Heredia, Eva Domínguez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2022-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Plant Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2021.807723/full
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author José J. Benítez
Ana González Moreno
Susana Guzmán-Puyol
José A. Heredia-Guerrero
Antonio Heredia
Eva Domínguez
author_facet José J. Benítez
Ana González Moreno
Susana Guzmán-Puyol
José A. Heredia-Guerrero
Antonio Heredia
Eva Domínguez
author_sort José J. Benítez
collection DOAJ
description Two important biophysical properties, the thermal and UV-Vis screening capacity, of isolated tomato fruit cuticle membranes (CM) have been studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and UV-Vis spectrometry, respectively. A first order melting, corresponding to waxes, and a second order glass transition (Tg) thermal events have been observed. The glass transition was less defined and displaced toward higher temperatures along the fruit ripening. In immature and mature green fruits, the CM was always in the viscous and more fluid state but, in ripe fruits, daily and seasonal temperature fluctuations may cause the transition between the glassy and viscous states altering the mass transfer between the epidermal plant cells and the environment. CM dewaxing reduced the Tg value, as derived from the role of waxes as fillers. Tg reduction was more intense after polysaccharide removal due to their highly interwoven distribution within the cutin matrix that restricts the chain mobility. Such effect was amplified by the presence of phenolic compounds in ripe cuticle membranes. The structural rigidity induced by phenolics in tomato CMs was directly reflected in their mechanical elastic modulus. The heat capacity (Cprev) of cuticle membranes was found to depend on the developmental stage of the fruits and was higher in immature and green stages. The average Cprev value was above the one of air, which confers heat regulation capacity to CM. Cuticle membranes screened the UV-B light by 99% irrespectively the developmental stage of the fruit. As intra and epicuticular waxes contributed very little to the UV screening, this protection capacity is attributed to the absorption by cinnamic acid derivatives. However, the blocking capacity toward UV-A is mainly due to the CM thickness increment during growth and to the absorption by flavone chalconaringenin accumulated during ripening. The build-up of phenolic compounds was found to be an efficient mechanism to regulate both the thermal and UV screening properties of cuticle membranes.
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spelling doaj.art-7783071ecbac4571ad3fe212227753682022-12-22T04:03:37ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2022-01-011210.3389/fpls.2021.807723807723The Response of Tomato Fruit Cuticle Membranes Against Heat and LightJosé J. Benítez0Ana González Moreno1Susana Guzmán-Puyol2José A. Heredia-Guerrero3Antonio Heredia4Eva Domínguez5Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Sevilla, Centro Mixto Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, SpainDepartamento de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea “La Mayora”, Universidad de Málaga-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, SpainDepartamento de Mejora Genética y Biotecnología, Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea “La Mayora”, Universidad de Málaga-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Estación Experimental La Mayora, Málaga, SpainDepartamento de Mejora Genética y Biotecnología, Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea “La Mayora”, Universidad de Málaga-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Estación Experimental La Mayora, Málaga, SpainDepartamento de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea “La Mayora”, Universidad de Málaga-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, SpainDepartamento de Mejora Genética y Biotecnología, Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea “La Mayora”, Universidad de Málaga-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Estación Experimental La Mayora, Málaga, SpainTwo important biophysical properties, the thermal and UV-Vis screening capacity, of isolated tomato fruit cuticle membranes (CM) have been studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and UV-Vis spectrometry, respectively. A first order melting, corresponding to waxes, and a second order glass transition (Tg) thermal events have been observed. The glass transition was less defined and displaced toward higher temperatures along the fruit ripening. In immature and mature green fruits, the CM was always in the viscous and more fluid state but, in ripe fruits, daily and seasonal temperature fluctuations may cause the transition between the glassy and viscous states altering the mass transfer between the epidermal plant cells and the environment. CM dewaxing reduced the Tg value, as derived from the role of waxes as fillers. Tg reduction was more intense after polysaccharide removal due to their highly interwoven distribution within the cutin matrix that restricts the chain mobility. Such effect was amplified by the presence of phenolic compounds in ripe cuticle membranes. The structural rigidity induced by phenolics in tomato CMs was directly reflected in their mechanical elastic modulus. The heat capacity (Cprev) of cuticle membranes was found to depend on the developmental stage of the fruits and was higher in immature and green stages. The average Cprev value was above the one of air, which confers heat regulation capacity to CM. Cuticle membranes screened the UV-B light by 99% irrespectively the developmental stage of the fruit. As intra and epicuticular waxes contributed very little to the UV screening, this protection capacity is attributed to the absorption by cinnamic acid derivatives. However, the blocking capacity toward UV-A is mainly due to the CM thickness increment during growth and to the absorption by flavone chalconaringenin accumulated during ripening. The build-up of phenolic compounds was found to be an efficient mechanism to regulate both the thermal and UV screening properties of cuticle membranes.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2021.807723/fulltomato fruit cuticle membranethermal characterizationUV-Vis screeningheat capacityglass transitionfruit growth and ripening
spellingShingle José J. Benítez
Ana González Moreno
Susana Guzmán-Puyol
José A. Heredia-Guerrero
Antonio Heredia
Eva Domínguez
The Response of Tomato Fruit Cuticle Membranes Against Heat and Light
Frontiers in Plant Science
tomato fruit cuticle membrane
thermal characterization
UV-Vis screening
heat capacity
glass transition
fruit growth and ripening
title The Response of Tomato Fruit Cuticle Membranes Against Heat and Light
title_full The Response of Tomato Fruit Cuticle Membranes Against Heat and Light
title_fullStr The Response of Tomato Fruit Cuticle Membranes Against Heat and Light
title_full_unstemmed The Response of Tomato Fruit Cuticle Membranes Against Heat and Light
title_short The Response of Tomato Fruit Cuticle Membranes Against Heat and Light
title_sort response of tomato fruit cuticle membranes against heat and light
topic tomato fruit cuticle membrane
thermal characterization
UV-Vis screening
heat capacity
glass transition
fruit growth and ripening
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2021.807723/full
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