Unveiling the origins and transport processes of radioactive pollutants downstream from a former U-mine site using isotopic tracers and U-238 series disequilibrium.

High U concentrations (reaching up to 14,850 mg â‹… kg-1), were determined in soils and sediments of a wetland downstream of a former U mine in France. This study aims to identify the origin of radioactive contaminants in the wetland by employing Pb isotope fingerprinting, (234U/238U) disequilibrium, SEM, and SIMS observations. Additionally, information about U and 226Ra transport processes was studied using U-238 series disequilibrium. The results of Pb fingerprinting highlighted inherited material inputs of different U-mines with mainly two types of U-ores: i) pitchblende (UO2), and ii) parsonsite (Pb2(UO2)(PO4)2). Moreover, significant disequilibrium of (230Th/238U) and (226Ra/230Th) activity ratios highlighted the mobility of 238U and 226Ra in the wetland, primarily driven by the water table fluctuations. Finally, this work uncovered a limitation of Pb isotope fingerprinting in the case of parsonsite materials, as the high natural Pb content of this mineral may hide the uranogenic Pb signature in the samples.

The genetic control of herkogamy.

Herkogamy is the spatial separation of anthers and stigmas within complete flowers, and is a key floral trait that promotes outcrossing in many angiosperms. The degree of separation between pollen-producing anthers and receptive stigmas has been shown to influence rates of self-pollination amongst plants, with a reduction in herkogamy increasing rates of successful selfing in self-compatible species. Self-pollination is becoming a critical issue in horticultural crops grown in environments where biotic pollinators are limited, absent, or difficult to utilise. In these cases, poor pollination results in reduced yield and misshapen fruit. Whilst there is a growing body of work elucidating the genetic basis of floral organ development, the genetic and environmental control points regulating herkogamy are poorly understood. A better understanding of the developmental and regulatory pathways involved in establishing varying degrees of herkogamy is needed to provide insights into the production of flowers more adept at selfing to produce consistent, high-quality fruit. This review presents our current understanding of herkogamy from a genetics and hormonal perspective.

Assessing radiation dosimetry for microorganisms in naturally radioactive mineral springs using GATE and Geant4-DNA Monte Carlo simulations.

Mineral springs in Massif Central, France can be characterized by higher levels of natural radioactivity in comparison to the background. The biota in these waters is constantly under radiation exposure mainly from the α-emitters of the natural decay chains, with 226Ra in sediments ranging from 21 Bq/g to 43 Bq/g and 222Rn activity concentrations in water up to 4600 Bq/L. This study couples for the first time micro- and nanodosimetric approaches to radioecology by combining GATE and Geant4-DNA to assess the dose rates and DNA damages to microorganisms living in these naturally radioactive ecosystems. It focuses on unicellular eukaryotic microalgae (diatoms) which display an exceptional abundance of teratological forms in the most radioactive mineral springs in Auvergne. Using spherical geometries for the microorganisms and based on γ-spectrometric analyses, we evaluate the impact of the external exposure to 1000 Bq/L 222Rn dissolved in the water and 30 Bq/g 226Ra in the sediments. Our results show that the external dose rates for diatoms are significant (9.7 µGy/h) and comparable to the threshold (10 µGy/h) for the protection of the ecosystems suggested by the literature. In a first attempt of simulating the radiation induced DNA damage on this species, the rate of DNA Double Strand Breaks per day is estimated to 1.11E-04. Our study confirms the significant mutational pressure from natural radioactivity to which microbial biodiversity has been exposed since Earth origin in hydrothermal springs.

The Gillenia trifoliata genome reveals dynamics correlated with growth and reproduction in Rosaceae.

The Rosaceae family has striking phenotypic diversity and high syntenic conservation. Gillenia trifoliata is sister species to the Maleae tribe of apple and ~1000 other species. Gillenia has many putative ancestral features, such as herb/sub-shrub habit, dry fruit-bearing and nine base chromosomes. This coalescence of ancestral characters in a phylogenetically important species, positions Gillenia as a 'rosetta stone' for translational science within Rosaceae. We present genomic and phenological resources to facilitate the use of Gillenia for this purpose. The Gillenia genome is the first fully annotated chromosome-level assembly with an ancestral genome complement (x = 9), and with it we developed an improved model of the Rosaceae ancestral genome. MADS and NAC gene family analyses revealed genome dynamics correlated with growth and reproduction and we demonstrate how Gillenia can be a negative control for studying fleshy fruit development in Rosaceae.

Radiocesium in Shiitake mushroom: Accumulation in living fruit bodies and leaching from dead fruit bodies.

In this paper, cesium (Cs) accumulation by the saprophytic fungus Lentinula edodes (Shiitake) was investigated to contribute to the elucidation of radiocesium-cycling mechanisms in forest environments. Although the 137Cs in the mushroom bed before culture was bioavailable, the transfer factor (TF) of Cs (133Cs and 137Cs) from the mushroom bed to fruit bodies was low (approximately 1) and the TFs of K (5) and Na (1.5) were higher. Cs and K concentrations in fruit bodies at different maturity stages were almost constant. The concentration ratio of Cs/K is constant in the pileus regardless of the pileus tissues. These results demonstrate that Shiitake non-specifically accumulates Cs while accumulating the essential element K and provide evidence that no selective Cs accumulation (or binding) sites exist within the Shiitake fruit body. Furthermore, the present results show that most accumulated Cs quickly leaches out from the dead fruit body with exposure to water. The leached Cs was largely adsorbable on clay minerals, suggesting that the Shiitake fruit body likely contains Cs in the cation form.

A gene expression atlas for kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) and network analysis of transcription factors.

BACKGROUND: Transcriptomic studies combined with a well annotated genome have laid the foundations for new understanding of molecular processes. Tools which visualise gene expression patterns have further added to these resources. The manual annotation of the Actinidia chinensis (kiwifruit) genome has resulted in a high quality set of 33,044 genes. Here we investigate gene expression patterns in diverse tissues, visualised in an Electronic Fluorescent Pictograph (eFP) browser, to study the relationship of transcription factor (TF) expression using network analysis. RESULTS: Sixty-one samples covering diverse tissues at different developmental time points were selected for RNA-seq analysis and an eFP browser was generated to visualise this dataset. 2839 TFs representing 57 different classes were identified and named. Network analysis of the TF expression patterns separated TFs into 14 different modules. Two modules consisting of 237 TFs were correlated with floral bud and flower development, a further two modules containing 160 TFs were associated with fruit development and maturation. A single module of 480 TFs was associated with ethylene-induced fruit ripening. Three "hub" genes correlated with flower and fruit development consisted of a HAF-like gene central to gynoecium development, an ERF and a DOF gene. Maturing and ripening hub genes included a KNOX gene that was associated with seed maturation, and a GRAS-like TF. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides an insight into the complexity of the transcriptional control of flower and fruit development, as well as providing a new resource to the plant community. The Actinidia eFP browser is provided in an accessible format that allows researchers to download and work internally.

Diffusions of sound frequencies designed to target dehydrins induce hydric stress tolerance in Pisum sativum seedings.

Among plant responses to environmentally induced stress modulating protein expression appears to be a key stage in inducible signaling. Our study was focused on an innovative strategy to stimulate plant stress resistance, namely, the use of targeted sequences of specific sound frequencies. The influence of acoustic stimulation on plant protein synthesis was investigated. In our study green peas, Pisum sativum, were cultured under hydric stress conditions with targeted acoustic stimulation. Acoustic sequences targeting dehydrins (DHN) which accumulate in plants in response to dehydration were studied. We experimented on pea seeding with two different sequences of sounds: the first one corresponded to DHN cognate protein and the second one was aimed at the DHN consensus sequence. Shoot elongation after pea seed germination was estimated by fresh weight gain studied in the presence of various conditions of exposure to both sequences of sounds. DHN expression in peas was quantified via ELISA tests and Western-blotting by using specific antibodies. A significant increase in fresh weight in peas grown under exposure to the DHN cognate sound sequence was observed, whereas the consensus sound sequence had no effect on growth. Moreover, the 37kDa DHN amount was increased in peas treated with the consensus acoustic sequence. These results suggest that the expression of DHN could be specifically modulated by a designed acoustic stimulus.

Nickel Retention on Callovo-Oxfordian Clay: Applicability of Existing Adsorption Models for Dilute Systems to Real Compact Rock.

In a waste management context, predicting the mobility of contaminants is essential. A key issue entails assessing the applicability of current knowledge on adsorption processes to natural systems. Such is the focus herein for nickel in interaction with Callovo-Oxfordian (COx) clay rock, a formation selected in France for possible radioactive waste disposal. The challenge is to link predictive modeling results with the experimental data characterizing the behavior of the labile and naturally occurring Ni fraction by implementing a new simple method. Retention studies on compact systems serve to complete this work. Combined electron microprobe and laser ablation high-resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry data show that natural Ni (∼39 mg kg-1) is homogeneously distributed within the clay matrix, which corresponds to the main reservoir (∼70%). Data interpretation of desorption tests yields an in situ Kd value of ∼80 L kg-1 and a labile Ni amount of ∼5 mg kg-1, that is, ∼13% of the Ni inventory. Predictive modeling explains the sorption data in considering that only weak clay fraction sites take part in the adsorption. The role of the clay matrix in Ni retention is confirmed by analyzing the Ni-spiked compact COx samples, whereby an increase of the Ni content in the clay fraction is observed following the retention experiment.

Analysis of time varying response on uptake patterns of Cu and Zn ions under application of ethylene diamine disuccinic acid and gibberellic acid in Lolium perenne.

The present study explores the effect of ethylene diamine disuccinic acid (EDDS) and gibberellic acid (GA) application on the phytoextraction of copper and zinc ions by Lolium perenne. When Cu was individually applied, accumulation diminished over time with little translocation from roots to shoots. In contrast, Zn accumulation and damage to roots rapidly increased over 3 days with increase in Zn translocation to shoots. Co-application of Zn to Cu amended treatments enhanced Cu concentration in shoots. For the CuEDDS application, EDDS significantly increased Cu accumulation and the damage to root increased over time, while gibberellic acid applied with Cu and Zn generally lowered metal uptake and decreased cell membrane damage. The application of EDDS and GA-EDDS, by themselves or with Cu and Zn, lowered transpiration and increased translocation, while GA increased transpiration but decreased translocation. EDDS application typically increased metal ion uptake by causing more cell damage, while GA typically lowered the damage and decreased metal uptake even though the transpiration increased over time and plant growth occurred. Furthermore, the behaviour of metal uptake changed over time and, for some treatments, the short-term and long-term response differed greatly. These results show that EDDS can be successfully used in phytoextraction of both Cu and Zn ions by Lolium perenne while GA can resist damage and protect against plant stress.

Comparative Transcriptome Analysis in Eggplant Reveals Selection Trends during Eggplant Domestication.

Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is an economically and nutritionally important fruit crop of the Solanaceae family, which was domesticated in India and southern China. However, the genome regions subjected to selective sweeps in eggplant remain unknown. In the present study, we performed comparative transcriptome analysis of cultivated and wild eggplant species with emphasis on the selection pattern during domestication. In total, 44,073 (S. sisymbriifolium) to 58,677 (S. melongena cultivar S58) unigenes were generated for the six eggplant accessions with total lengths of 36.6-46 Mb. The orthologous genes were assessed using the ratio of nonsynonymous (K a) to synonymous (K s) nucleotide substitutions to characterize selective patterns during eggplant domestication. We identified 19 genes under positive selection across the phylogeny that were classified into four groups. The gene (OG12205) under positive selection was possibly associated with fruit-related traits in eggplant, which may have resulted from human manipulation. Eight positive selected genes were potentially involved in stress tolerance or disease resistance, suggesting that environmental changes and biotic stresses were important selective pressures in eggplant domestication. Taken together, our results shed light on the effects of artificial and natural selection on the transcriptomes of eggplant and its wild relatives. Identification of the selected genes will facilitate the understanding of genetic architecture of domesticated-related traits and provide resources for resistant breeding in eggplant.

Copy number variants in kiwifruit ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR/APETALA2 (ERF/AP2)-like genes show divergence in fruit ripening associated cold and ethylene responses in C-REPEAT/DRE BINDING FACTOR-like genes.

The ETYHLENE RESPONSE FACTOR/APETALA2 (ERF/AP2) transcription factors have been shown to control a wide range of developmental and environmental responses in plants. These include hormonal responses to ethylene and Abscisic Acid (ABA) as well as to cold and drought. In Actinidia chinensis (kiwifruit), ripening is unusual: although it is sometimes classed as a climacteric fruit (ethylene-associated ripening), much of fruit ripening occurs independently from autocatalytic ethylene production. Initiation of ripening appears to be strongly developmentally controlled and modulated by low temperature. In this study, fruit treated with different temperatures showed an increase in soluble sugar accumulation, and a corresponding increase in ß-AMYLASE (BAM) genes (predominantly BAM3.2 and BAM9) with lower temperatures. To investigate the potential role of the AP2/ERF gene family in the control of fruit ripening in kiwifruit this family was investigated further. Using the new genome annotation and further genome sequence analysis we identified 226 ERF-like genes, 10 AP2L/RAV-like genes and 32 AP2-like genes. An RNA-seq screen from kiwifruit of different maturities, and following treatment with ethylene and temperatures between 0 and 16°C, revealed 4%, 26% and 18% of the ERF-like genes were upregulated by maturation, ethylene and cold temperatures, respectively. Focusing on the C-REPEAT/DRE BINDING FACTOR (CBF) cold master regulators, nine potential genes were identified based on sequence similarity. Five of these CBF-like genes were found in a copy number variant (CNV) cluster of six genes on chromosome 14. Expression analysis showed that two homeologous genes (ERF41 and ERF180) increased in abundance with cold and ethylene, while the cluster of CNV CBF-like genes had lost the ability to respond to cold and increased only with ethylene, suggesting an evolutionary progression of function of these genes.

Ethylene receptors and related proteins in climacteric and non-climacteric fruits.

Fruits have been traditionally classified into two categories based on their capacity to produce and respond to ethylene during ripening. Fruits whose ripening is associated to a peak of ethylene production and a respiration burst are referred to as climacteric, while those that are not are referred to as non-climacteric. However, an increasing body of literature supports an important role for ethylene in the ripening of both climacteric and non-climacteric fruits. Genome and transcriptomic data have become available across a variety of fruits and we leverage these data to compare the structure and transcriptional regulation of the ethylene receptors and related proteins. Through the analysis of four economically important fruits, two climacteric (tomato and apple), and two non-climacteric (grape and citrus), this review compares the structure and transcriptional regulation of the ethylene receptors and related proteins in both types of fruit, establishing a basis for the annotation of ethylene-related genes. This analysis reveals two interesting differences between climacteric and non-climacteric fruit: i) a higher number of ETR genes are found in climacteric fruits, and ii) non-climacteric fruits are characterized by an earlier ETR expression peak relative to sugar accumulation.

The GLO1 Gene Is Required for Full Activity of O-Acetyl Homoserine Sulfhydrylase Encoded by MET17.

During glycolysis, yeast generates methylglyoxal (MG), a toxic metabolite that affects growth. Detoxification can occur when glyoxylase I (GLO1) and glyoxylase II (GLO2) convert MG to lactic acid. We have identified an additional, previously unrecognized role for GLO1 in sulfur assimilation in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. During a screening for putative carbon-sulfur lyases, the glo1 deletion strain showed significant production of H2S during fermentation. The glo1 strain also assimilated sulfate inefficiently but grew normally on cysteine. These phenotypes are consistent with reduced activity of the O-acetyl homoserine sulfhydrylase, Met17p. Overexpression of Glo1p gave a dominant negative phenotype that mimicked the glo1 and met17 deletion strain phenotypes. Western analysis revealed reduced expression of Met17p in the glo1 deletion, but there was no indication of an altered conformation of Met17p or any direct interaction between the two proteins. Unravelling a novel function in sulfur assimilation and H2S generation in yeast for a gene never connected with this pathway provides new opportunities for the study of this molecule in cell signaling, as well as the potential regulation of its accumulation in the wine and beer industry.

The hybrid non-ethylene and ethylene ripening response in kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) is associated with differential regulation of MADS-box transcription factors.

BACKGROUND: Ripening in tomato is predominantly controlled by ethylene, whilst in fruit such as grape, it is predominantly controlled by other hormones. The ripening response of many kiwifruit (Actinidia) species is atypical. The majority of ripening-associated fruit starch hydrolysis, colour change and softening occurs in the apparent absence of ethylene production (Phase 1 ripening) whilst Phase 2 ripening requires autocatalytic ethylene production and is associated with further softening and an increase in aroma volatiles. RESULTS: To dissect the ripening response in the yellow-fleshed kiwifruit A. chinensis ('Hort16A'), a two dimensional developmental stage X ethylene response time study was undertaken. As fruit progressed through maturation and Phase 1 ripening, fruit were treated with different concentrations of propylene and ethylene. At the start of Phase 1 ripening, treated fruit responded to ethylene, and were capable of producing endogenous ethylene. As the fruit progressed through Phase 1 ripening, the fruit became less responsive to ethylene and endogeneous ethylene production was partially repressed. Towards the end of Phase 1 ripening the fruit were again able to produce high levels of ethylene. Progression through Phase 1 ripening coincided with a developmental increase in the expression of the ethylene-unresponsive MADS-box FRUITFUL-like gene (FUL1). The ability to respond to ethylene however coincided with a change in expression of another MADS-box gene SEPALLATA4/RIPENING INHIBITOR-like (SEP4/RIN). The promoter of SEP4/RIN was shown to be transactivated by EIN3-like transcription factors, but unlike tomato, not by SEP4/RIN itself. Transient over-expression of SEP4/RIN in kiwifruit caused an increase in ethylene production. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the non-ethylene/ethylene ripening response observed in kiwifruit is a hybrid of both the tomato and grape ripening progression, with Phase 1 being akin to the RIN/ethylene inhibitory response observed in grape and Phase 2 akin to the RIN-associated autocatalytic ethylene response observed in tomato.

Transcriptional control of fleshy fruit development and ripening.

Fleshy fruits have evolved to be attractive to frugivores in order to enhance seed dispersal, and have become an indispensable part of the human diet. Here we review the recent advances in the understanding of transcriptional regulation of fleshy fruit development and ripening with a focus on tomato. While aspects of fruit development are probably conserved throughout the angiosperms, including the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, it is shown that the likely orthologues of Arabidopsis genes have distinct functions in fleshy fruits. The model for the study of fleshy fruit development is tomato, because of the availability of single gene mutants and transgenic knock-down lines. In other species, our knowledge is often incomplete or absent. Tomato fruit size and shape are co-determined by transcription factors acting during formation of the ovary. Other transcription factors play a role in fruit chloroplast formation, and upon ripening impact quality aspects such as secondary metabolite content. In tomato, the transcription factors NON-RIPENING (NOR), COLORLESS NON-RIPENING (CNR), and RIPENING INHIBITOR (MADS-RIN) in concert with ethylene signalling regulate ripening, possibly in response to a developmental switch. Additional components include TOMATO AGAMOUS-LIKE1 (TAGL1), APETALA2a (AP2a), and FRUITFULL (FUL1 and FUL2). The links between this highly connected regulatory network and downstream effectors modulating colour, texture, and flavour are still relatively poorly understood. Intertwined with this network is post-transcriptional regulation by fruit-expressed microRNAs targeting several of these transcription factors. This important developmental process is also governed by changes in DNA methylation levels and possibly chromatin remodelling.

DRM1 and DRM2 expression regulation: potential role of splice variants in response to stress and environmental factors in Arabidopsis.

The DRM1/ARP gene family is increasingly exhibiting associations with stress conditions at the transcript level. Traditionally correlated with dormancy, increases in transcript levels in response to various treatments have also been reported in various species. As alternative transcript splicing is common in stress conditions, the splice variants of AtDRM1 and AtDRM2 were assessed further in this study. A previously undescribed splice variant of AtDRM1 (AtDRM1.6) is introduced in this work. In silico analyses of predicted protein sequence of all splice variants showed that all variants retain the predicted intrinsically disordered nature. Transcriptional studies of AtDRM1 and AtDRM2 in response to a wide range of abiotic, physical and hormonal treatments showed that AtDRM1.6 is differentially regulated at the transcriptional level compared with other splice variants. Promoter analyses demonstrated AtDRM1 light regulation via the upstream promoter sequence.

A dynamic interplay between phytohormones is required for fruit development, maturation, and ripening.

Plant species that bear fruit often utilize expansion of an ovary (carpel) or accessory tissue as a vehicle for seed dispersal. While the seed(s) develop, the tissue(s) of the fruit follow a common progression of cell division and cell expansion, promoting growth of the fruit. Once the seed is fully developed, the fruit matures and the surrounding tissue either dries or ripens promoting the dissemination of the seed. As with many developmental processes in plants, plant hormones play an important role in the synchronization of signals between the developing seed and its surrounding fruit tissue(s), regulating each phase of fruit development. Following pollination, fruit set is achieved through a de-repression of growth and an activation of cell division via the action of auxin and/or cytokinin and/or gibberellin. Following fruit set, growth of the fruit is facilitated through a relatively poorly studied period of cell expansion and endoreduplication that is likely regulated by similar hormones as in fruit set. Once the seeds reach maturity, fruit become ready to undergo ripening and during this period there is a major switch in relative hormone levels of the fruit, involving an overall decrease in auxin, gibberellin, and cytokinin and a simultaneous increase in abscisic acid and ethylene. While the role of hormones in fruit set and ripening is well documented, the knowledge of the roles of other hormones during growth, maturation, and some individual ripening components is sketchy.

SEPALLATA1/2-suppressed mature apples have low ethylene, high auxin and reduced transcription of ripening-related genes.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Fruit ripening is an important developmental trait in fleshy fruits, making the fruit palatable for seed dispersers. In some fruit species, there is a strong association between auxin concentrations and fruit ripening. We investigated the relationship between auxin concentrations and the onset of ethylene-related ripening in Malus × domestica (apples) at both the hormone and transcriptome levels. METHODOLOGY: Transgenic apples suppressed for the SEPALLATA1/2 (SEP1/2) class of gene (MADS8/9) that showed severely reduced ripening were compared with untransformed control apples. In each apple type, free indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) concentrations were measured during early ripening. The changes observed in auxin were assessed in light of global changes in gene expression. PRINCIPAL RESULTS: It was found that mature MADS8/9-suppressed apples had a higher concentration of free IAA. This was associated with increased expression of the auxin biosynthetic genes in the indole-3-acetamide pathway. Additionally, in the MADS8/9-suppressed apples, there was less expression of the GH3 auxin-conjugating enzymes. A number of genes involved in the auxin-regulated transcription (AUX/IAA and ARF classes of genes) were also observed to change in expression, suggesting a mechanism for signal transduction at the start of ripening. CONCLUSIONS: The delay in ripening observed in MADS8/9-suppressed apples may be partly due to high auxin concentrations. We propose that, to achieve low auxin associated with fruit maturation, the auxin homeostasis is controlled in a two-pronged manner: (i) by the reduction in biosynthesis and (ii) by an increase in auxin conjugation. This is associated with the change in expression of auxin-signalling genes and the up-regulation of ripening-related genes.

Apple SEPALLATA1/2-like genes control fruit flesh development and ripening.

Flowering plants utilize different floral structures to develop flesh tissue in fruits. Here we show that suppression of the homeologous SEPALLATA1/2-like genes MADS8 and MADS9 in the fleshy fruit apple (Malus x domestica) leads to sepaloid petals and greatly reduced fruit flesh. Immunolabelling of cell-wall epitopes and differential staining showed that the developing hypanthium (from which the apple flesh develops) of MADS8/9-suppressed apple flowers lacks a tissue layer, and the remaining flesh tissue of fully developed apples has considerably smaller cells. From these observations, it is proposed that MADS8 and MADS9 control the development of discrete zones within the hypanthium tissue, and therefore fruit flesh, and also act as foundations for development of different floral organs. At fruit maturity, the MADS8/9-suppressed apples do not ripen in terms of both developmentally controlled ripening characters, such as starch degradation, and ethylene-modulated ripening traits. Transient assays suggest that, like the RIN gene in tomato, the MADS9 gene acts as a transcriptional activator of the ethylene biosynthesis enzyme, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) synthase 1. The existence of a single class of genes that regulate both flesh formation and ripening provides an evolutionary tool for controlling two critical aspects of fleshy fruit development.

A genomics approach to understanding the role of auxin in apple (Malus x domestica) fruit size control.

BACKGROUND: Auxin is an important phytohormone for fleshy fruit development, having been shown to be involved in the initial signal for fertilisation, fruit size through the control of cell division and cell expansion, and ripening related events. There is considerable knowledge of auxin-related genes, mostly from work in model species. With the apple genome now available, it is possible to carry out genomics studies on auxin-related genes to identify genes that may play roles in specific stages of apple fruit development. RESULTS: High amounts of auxin in the seed compared with the fruit cortex were observed in 'Royal Gala' apples, with amounts increasing through fruit development. Injection of exogenous auxin into developing apples at the start of cell expansion caused an increase in cell size. An expression analysis screen of auxin-related genes involved in auxin reception, homeostasis, and transcriptional regulation showed complex patterns of expression in each class of gene. Two mapping populations were phenotyped for fruit size over multiple seasons, and multiple quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were observed. One QTL mapped to a region containing an Auxin Response Factor (ARF106). This gene is expressed during cell division and cell expansion stages, consistent with a potential role in the control of fruit size. CONCLUSIONS: The application of exogenous auxin to apples increased cell expansion, suggesting that endogenous auxin concentrations are at least one of the limiting factors controlling fruit size. The expression analysis of ARF106 linked to a strong QTL for fruit weight suggests that the auxin signal regulating fruit size could partially be modulated through the function of this gene. One class of gene (GH3) removes free auxin by conjugation to amino acids. The lower expression of these GH3 genes during rapid fruit expansion is consistent with the apple maximising auxin concentrations at this point.