Study of the molecular and physiological basis involved in the tolerance of fruit to chilling injury

• Grant number: 11/10287-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: February 01, 2012
• End date: March 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Botany - Pant Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Lázaro Eustaquio Pereira Peres
• Grantee: Lázaro Eustaquio Pereira Peres
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Antonio Vargas de Oliveira Figueira ; Ivan Sestari ; Ricardo Alfredo Kluge
• Associated research grant(s): 13/50502-2 - Effect of abscisic acid and gibberellins in the accumulation of sugars and its relationship with the synthesis of terpenes in the fruit of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cv. Micro-Tom), AP.R

Abstract

Although cooling practices are predominantly used for preserving fruit, this procedure can trigger, in susceptible species, a number of physiological disturbances that reduces the value of the product. Thus, the susceptibility to temperatures below 10 °C represents the main obstacle to extend the shelf life of many tropical species of great economic importance. Although there are treatments that can reduce the symptoms of injuries, there is little progress in understanding the physiological and molecular bases involved in this physiological disorder. Recent studies have indicated that ethylene and oxidative stress may be involved in the induction of injury, yet the evidence on this relationship has been contradictory. Since most tropical fruits are not adequate genetic models where well-characterized mutants and genomic information are available, a comprehensive study using genetic approaches remains open. The present project proposes the use of a model system composed of tomato hormonal mutants and other mutations affecting the reproductive development in tomato, a plant whose knowledge generated can be extended to a variety of fleshy and climacteric fruits. Such mutants, combined with a series of tests involving gene expression, enzyme activity and parameters of post-harvest, will be used to determine the involvement of ethylene in the mechanism of induction of cold injury and the role played by the antioxidant defense system in the acquisition of tolerance of fruits to low temperatures. (AU)