Unraveling cell wall polysaccharides during blueberry ripening: insights into the roles of rhamnogalacturonan-I and arabinogalactan proteins in fruit firmness.

Blueberries () undergo significant texture changes during development and ripening, notably a consistent decrease in firmness, which affects fruit quality, consumer preference, transportability, and shelf life. This study examined the composition and structural modifications of the cell wall in five commercially available blueberry varieties with differing firmness levels at harvest. Our approach integrated various biochemical techniques for a comprehensive analysis of cell wall components to elucidate firmness differences at the harvest stage.

Characterization of FchAGL9 and FchSHP, two MADS-boxes related to softening of Fragaria chiloensis fruit.

Fragaria chiloensis is a Chilean native species that softens intensively during its ripening. Its softening is related to cell wall disassembly due to the participation of cell wall degrading enzymes. Softening of F.

Mucilage extracted from Chilean papaya seeds is enriched with homogalacturonan domains.

Chilean papaya, also known as mountain papaya (), is a fruit valued for its nutritional value and pleasant fragrance. The oblong fruit, featuring five ridges and a seed-filled mucilage cavity, is typically consumed cooked due to its high protease content. The mucilage and the seeds are usually discarded as byproducts.

Insights into the Genes Involved in ABA Biosynthesis and Perception during Development and Ripening of the Chilean Strawberry Fruit.

Hormones act as master ripening regulators. In non-climacteric fruit, ABA plays a key role in ripening. Recently, we confirmed in fruit that in response to ABA treatment the fruit induces ripening-associated changes such as softening and color development.

Evaluation of reference genes for transcript normalization in fruit and vegetative tissues.

Unlabelled: Quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) is used extensively in gene expression studies. For adequate comparisons, the identification and use of reliable reference genes are crucial. Nevertheless, the availability of such genes in strawberry species is limited and has yet to be described for the Chilean strawberry, .

RNAseq, transcriptome analysis and identification of DEGs involved in development and ripening of fruit.

(Chilean strawberry) is a native species that produces fruit with an exotic pinkish color and a fruity aroma. It has a non-climacteric pattern of fruit ripening, and it is the mother of the commercial x . The ripening of fruit seems stimulated by ABA, and a complete set of genes participate in its softening, color, and aroma development.

Differential Expression of Arabinogalactan in Response to Inclination in Stem of Seedlings.

Arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) are members of a family of proteins that play important roles in cell wall dynamics. AGPs from inclined pines were determined using JIM7, LM2, and LM6 antibodies, showing a higher concentration in one side of the stem. The accumulation of AGPs in xylem and cell wall tissues is enhanced in response to loss of tree stem verticality.

ABA Speeds Up the Progress of Color in Developing Fruit through the Activation of , and , Key Genes of the Phenylpropanoid/Flavonoid and Anthocyanin Pathways.

Phenolic compounds with antioxidant properties have risen in interest due to their benefits for human health. is a native wild berry species from Chile that develops a white/pink receptacle and white flesh at the ripe stage. Changes in color parameters, anthocyanins, secondary metabolites (phenolics, flavonoids), and total antioxidant capacity were followed during the development and ripening of fruit.

Postharvest Treatment of Hydrogen Sulfide Delays the Softening of Chilean Strawberry Fruit by Downregulating the Expression of Key Genes Involved in Pectin Catabolism.

Hydrogen sulfide (HS) plays several physiological roles in plants. Despite the evidence, the role of HS on cell wall disassembly and its implications on fleshy fruit firmness remains unknown. In this work, the effect of HS treatment on the shelf-life, cell wall polymers and cell wall modifying-related gene expression of Chilean strawberry () fruit was tested during postharvest storage.

Southern Species From the Biodiversity Hotspot of Central Chile: A Source of Color, Aroma, and Metabolites for Global Agriculture and Food Industry in a Scenario of Climate Change.

Two interesting plants within the Chilean flora (wild and crop species) can be found with a history related to modern fruticulture: subsp. (Rosaceae) and (Caricaceae). Both species have a wide natural distribution, which goes from the Andes mountains to the sea (East-West), and from the Atacama desert to the South of Chile (North-South).

Characterization of FcXTH2, a Novel Xyloglucan Endotransglycosylase/Hydrolase Enzyme of Chilean Strawberry with Hydrolase Activity.

Xyloglucan endotransglycosylase/hydrolases (XTHs) are cell wall enzymes with hydrolase (XEH) and/or endotransglycosylase (XET) activities. As they are involved in the modification of the xyloglucans, a type of hemicellulose present in the cell wall, they are believed to be very important in different processes, including growth, development, and fruit ripening. Previous studies suggest that XTHs might play a key role in development and ripening of fruit, and its characterization is pending.

Photooxidative stress activates a complex multigenic response integrating the phenylpropanoid pathway and ethylene, leading to lignin accumulation in apple ( Borkh.) fruit.

Photooxidative stress, when combined with elevated temperatures, triggers various defense mechanisms leading to physiological, biochemical, and morphological changes in fruit tissue. Furthermore, during sun damage, apple fruit undergo textural changes characterized by high flesh firmness compared to unexposed fruit. Fuji and Royal Gala apples were suddenly exposed to sunlight on the tree and then sampled for up to 29 days.

Induction of PrMADS10 on the lower side of bent pine tree stems: potential role in modifying plant cell wall properties and wood anatomy.

The molecular mechanisms underlying inclination responses in trees are unclear. In this study, we identified a MADS-box transcription factor differentially expressed early after inclination in the stems of Pinus radiata D. Don.

Isolation of a rhamnogalacturonan lyase expressed during ripening of the Chilean strawberry fruit and its biochemical characterization.

Fragaria chiloensis (L.) Mill. fruit has exotic organoleptic properties however commercialization is a challenge due to its fast and intensive softening.

Molecular Events Occurring During Softening of Strawberry Fruit.

Changes in fruit texture taking place during ripening, described as softening, are mainly due to alterations in structure and/or composition of the cell wall. Several non-covalent interactions between the three carbohydrate polymers of the cell wall, cellulose, pectins and hemicellulose, and many structural proteins and ions, enable a complex structure. During softening, the disassembly of the cell wall structure takes place, mediated by a complete set of cell wall degrading enzymes or proteins.

Molecular insights of a xyloglucan endo-transglycosylase/hydrolase of radiata pine (PrXTH1) expressed in response to inclination: Kinetics and computational study.

Xyloglucan endotransglycosylase/hydrolases (XTH) may have endotransglycosylase (XET) and/or hydrolase (XEH) activities. Previous studies confirmed XET activity for PrXTH1 protein from radiata pine. XTHs could interact with many hemicellulose substrates, but the favorite substrate of PrXTH1 is still unknown.

Comparative study of the differences in the structure and ligand interaction properties of three alpha-expansin proteins from fruit.

Expansins are cell wall proteins associated with several processes, including changes in the cell wall during ripening of fruit, which matches softening of the fruit. We have previously reported an increase in expression of specific expansins transcripts during softening of fruit. Here, we characterized three .

XTHs from Fragaria vesca: genomic structure and transcriptomic analysis in ripening fruit and other tissues.

Background: Fragaria vesca or 'woodland strawberry' has emerged as an attractive model for the study of ripening of non-climacteric fruit. It has several advantages, such as its small genome and its diploidy. The recent availability of the complete sequence of its genome opens the possibility for further analysis and its use as a reference species.

Glycosylation is important for FcXTH1 activity as judged by its structural and biochemical characterization.

Xyloglucan endotransglycosylase/hydrolases (XTH) may have endotransglycosylase (XET) and/or hydrolase (XEH) activities. Previous studies suggest that XTHs might play a key role in ripening of Fragaria chiloensis fruit as FcXTH1 transcripts increase as fruit softens. FcXTH1 protein sequence contains a conserved N-glycosylation site adjacent to catalytic residues.

Biochemical and structural characterization of Penicillium purpurogenum α-D galactosidase: Binding of galactose to an alternative pocket may explain enzyme inhibition.

The fungus Penicillium purpurogenum degrades plant cell walls by the action of cellulolytic, xylanolytic and pectinolytic enzymes. The α-D-galactosidase is one of the enzymes which may act on pectin degradation. This enzyme has several biotechnological and medical applications.

FcLDP1, a Gene Encoding a Late Embryogenesis Abundant (LEA) Domain Protein, Responds to Brassinosteroids and Abscisic Acid during the Development of Fruits in Fragaria chiloensis.

White Chilean strawberries (Fragaria chiloensis) are non-climacteric fruits, with an exotic color and aroma. In order to discover genes involved in the development of these fruits, we identified a fragment of a gene encoding a late embryogenesis abundant domain protein, FcLDP1, that was expressed in early stages of fruit development, particularly in receptacles. Hormones play key roles in regulating the development of non-climacteric fruits.

Chilean Strawberry Consumption Protects against LPS-Induced Liver Injury by Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Capability in Sprague-Dawley Rats.

The Chilean strawberry fruit has high content of antioxidants and polyphenols. Previous studies evidenced antioxidant properties by in vitro methods. However, the antioxidant effect and its impact as functional food on animal health have not been evaluated.

Computational study enlightens the structural role of the alcohol acyltransferase DFGWG motif.

Alcohol acyltransferases (AAT) catalyze the esterification reaction of alcohols and acyl-CoA into esters in fruits and flowers. Despite the high divergence between AAT enzymes, two important and conserved motifs are shared: the catalytic HxxxD motif, and the DFGWG motif. The latter is proposed to play a structural role; however, its function remains unclear.

In-silico analysis of the structure and binding site features of an α-expansin protein from mountain papaya fruit (VpEXPA2), through molecular modeling, docking, and dynamics simulation studies.

Fruit softening is associated to cell wall modifications produced by a set of hydrolytic enzymes and proteins. Expansins are proteins with no catalytic activity, which have been associated with several processes during plant growth and development. A role for expansins has been proposed during softening of fruits, and many fruit-specific expansins have been identified in a variety of species.