Genome-wide identification of SUN gene family in Fragaria vesca and stresses-response analysis / 生物工程学报

SUN gene is a group of key genes regulating plant growth and development. Here, SUN gene families of strawberry were identified from the genome of the diploid Fragaria vesca, and their physicochemical properties, genes structure, evolution and genes expression were also analyzed. Our results showed that there were thirty-one FvSUN genes in F. vesca and the FvSUNs encoded proteins were classified into seven groups, and the members in the same group showed high similarity in gene structures and conservative motifs. The electronic subcellular localization of FvSUNs was mainly in the nucleus. Collinearity analysis showed that the members of FvSUN gene family were mainly expanded by segmental duplication in F. vesca, and Arabidopsis and F. vesca shared twenty-three pairs of orthologous SUN genes. According to the expression pattern in different tissues shown by the transcriptome data of F. vesca, the FvSUNs gene can be divided into three types: (1) expressed in nearly all tissues, (2) hardly expressed in any tissues, and (3) expressed in special tissues. The gene expression pattern of FvSUNs was further verified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Additionally, the seedlings of F. vesca were treated by different abiotic stresses, and the expression level of 31 FvSUNs genes were assayed by qRT-PCR. The expression of most of the tested genes was induced by cold, high salt or drought stress. Our studies may facilitate revealing the biological function and molecular mechanism of SUN genes in strawberry.

Measurement of expansin activity and plant cell wall creep by using a commercial texture analyzer

Background: Expansins play an important role in cell wall metabolism and fruit softening. Determination of expansin activity is a challenging problem since it depends on measuring cell wall properties by using ad hoc extensometers, a fact that has strongly restricted its study. Then, the objective of the work was to adapt a methodology to measure cell wall creep and expansin activity using a commercial texture meter, equipped with miniature tensile grips and an ad hoc cuvette of easy construction. Results: It was possible to measure hypocotyls acid growth and expansin activity in a reliable and reproducible way, using a commercial texture meter, common equipment found in laboratories of food science or postharvest technology. Expansin activity was detected in protein extracts from cucumber hypocotyls, tomato and strawberry fruits, and statistical differences in expansin activity were found in both fruit models at different ripening stages. Conclusions: The possibility of measuring expansin activity following this adapted protocol with a commercial texture meter could contribute to ease and increase the analysis of expansin in different systems, leading to a better understanding of the properties of these proteins under different experimental conditions.

Cadmium toxicity affects chlorophyll a and b content, antioxidant enzyme activities and mineral nutrient accumulation in strawberry

BACKGROUND: Cadmium (Cd) is well known as one of the most toxic metals affecting the environment and can severely restrict plant growth and development. In this study, Cd toxicities were studied in strawberry cv. Camarosa using pot experiment. Chlorophyll and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities and mineral nutrient concentrations were investigated in both roots and leaves of strawberry plant after exposure Cd. RESULTS: Cd content in both roots and leaves was increased with the application of increasing concentrations of Cd. We found higher Cd concentration in roots rather than in leaves. Chlorophyll a and b was decreased in leaves but MDA significantly increased under increased Cd concentration treatments in both roots and leaves. SOD and CAT activities was also increased with the increase Cd concentrations. K, Mn and Mg concentrations were found higher in leaves than roots under Cd stress. In general, increased Cd treatments increased K, Mg, Fe, Ca, Cu and Zn concentration in both roots and leaves. Excessive Cd treatments reduced chlorophyll contents, increased antioxidant enzyme activities and changes in plant nutrition concentrations in both roots and leaves. CONCLUSION: The results presented in this work suggested that Cd treatments have negative effect on chlorophyll content and nearly decreased 30% of plant growth in strawberry. Strawberry roots accumulated higher Cd than leaves. We found that MDA and antioxidant enzyme (CAT, SOD and APX) contents may have considered a good indicator in determining Cd tolerance in strawberry plant.

Biosynthesis of flavonoids in achenes of Fragaria chiloensis ssp. chiloensis / Biosintesis de flavonoides en aquenios de Fragaria chiloensis ssp. chiloensis

Fragaria chiloensis ssp. chiloensis has two native botanical forms. Fruits from both botanical forms, Fragaria chiloensis ssp. chiloensis f. chiloensis (native white strawberry) and f. patagonica (native red strawberry), were collected from Bio-Bio Region, and a comparative study in the biosynthesis and pigment accumulation was performed from achens. The fruit was classified in four different developmental and ripening stages in order to establish the differences in the transcriptional profile of structural genes and the chemical compounds. A differential expression of those genes involved in the biosynthesis (phenylpropanoid and flavonoids) of anthocianins was found. The differential expression of genes was concomitant with the increase in the level of cyanidin 3-glucoside (C3G) along the fruit development for both botanical forms. On the contrary, undetectable level of cyanidin 3-glucoside (P3G) was observed in the f. chiloensis. Albeit, P3G increase rapidly from the development stage 2, reaching the maximum value at stage 4 in Fragaria chiloensis ssp. chiloensis f. patagonica.

Fragaria chiloensis ssp. chiloensis presenta dos formas botánicas nativas. Los frutos de ambas formas botánicas, Fragaria chiloensis ssp. chiloensis f. chiloensis (frutilla nativa blanca) y f. patagonica (frutilla nativa roja), fueron colectadas en la región del Bio-Bio, realizándose un estudio comparativo en la biosíntesis y acumulación de la pigmentación en aquenios. Para ello, el fruto fue clasificado en cuatro distintos estadios de desarrollo y maduración a fin de establecer las diferencias en los perfiles transcripcionales de genes estructurales y de compuestos químicos. Se determinó una expresión diferencial de los genes responsables de la formación de antocianinas, concomitante con un incremento en los niveles de cianidina 3-glucósido (C3G) en tanto avanza el desarrollo del fruto en ambas formas botánicas. Por el contrario, se observó niveles indetectables de pelargonidina 3-glucósido (P3G) en f. chiloensis, lo cual contrasta con lo observado en f. patagonica, donde P3G se incrementa rápidamente a partir del estadio 2, alcanzando un máximo valor en estadio 4.

Compostos bioativos de cultivares brasileiras de morango (Fragaria x ananassa Duch. ): caracterização e estudo da biodisponibilidade dos derivados de ácido elágico / Bioactive compounds from Brazilian strawberry cultivars (Fragaria x ananassa Duch. ): characterization and bioavailability of ellagic acid derivatives

O morango representa boa fonte de vitamina C, flavonóides e derivados de ácido elágico e tem ampla aceitação pela população brasileira. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram: caracterizar diferentes cultivares quanto aos teores de compostos bioativos, otimizar a metodologia para quantificação do conteúdo de ácido elágico total, purificar e caracterizar estruturalmente os elagitaninos, avaliar sua potencial atividade antiproliferativa, anti-diabetes tipo 2 e anti-hipertensão, estudar a biodisponibilidade desses compostos in vivo. Os resultados demonstraram que existem diferenças significativas nos teores de compostos bioativos entre as cultivares. As melhores condições para determinação dos teores de ácido elágico total foram: extração em acetona 80 % e posterior hidrólise com ácido trifluoracético (TFA) 2N a 120ºC por 60 minutos. A precipitação com acetato de itérbio foi o método mais eficiente para a purificação dos elagitaninos. Após administração por gavagem a ratos de um purificado de elagitaninos, nenhum composto foi detectado no plasma e tecidos analisados...