Molecular and biochemical components associated with chilling tolerance in tomato: comparison of different developmental stages.

The cultivated tomato, Solanum lycopersicum, is highly sensitive to cold stress (CS), resulting in significant losses during cultivation and postharvest fruit storage. Previously, we demonstrated the presence of substantial genetic variation in fruit chilling tolerance in a tomato recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross between a chilling-sensitive tomato line and a chilling-tolerant accession of the wild species S. pimpinellifolium.

Genetic and biotechnological tools to identify breeding targets for improving postharvest quality and extending shelf life of peppers.

Improved postharvest storage is a major target for pepper-crop production. The three main components of postharvest improvement of pepper fruit are reducing water-loss rate, reducing chilling susceptibility, and increasing resistance to pathogens. To date, a small number of Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL) studies have been reported for reduced water loss and enhanced tolerance to chilling and anthracnose.

Downregulation of GeBP-like α factor by MiR827 suggests their involvement in senescence and phosphate homeostasis.

Background: Leaf senescence is a genetically controlled degenerative process intimately linked to phosphate homeostasis during plant development and responses to environmental conditions. Senescence is accelerated by phosphate deficiency, with recycling and mobilization of phosphate from senescing leaves serving as a major phosphate source for sink tissues. Previously, miR827 was shown to play a significant role in regulating phosphate homeostasis, and induction of its expression was also observed during Arabidopsis leaf senescence.

Coding of Non-coding RNA: Insights Into the Regulatory Functions of Pri-MicroRNA-Encoded Peptides in Plants.

Peptides composed of a short chain of amino acids can play significant roles in plant growth, development, and stress responses. Most of these functional peptides are derived by either processing precursor proteins or direct translation of small open reading frames present in the genome and sometimes located in the untranslated region sequence of a messenger RNA. Generally, canonical peptides serve as local signal molecules mediating short- or long-distance intercellular communication.