Gene Expression, Activity and Localization of Beta-Galactosidases during Late Ripening and Postharvest Storage of Tomato Fruit

Dimitrios Fanourakis, Nikolaos Nikoloudakis, Konstantinos Paschalidis, Miltiadis V. Christopoulos, Eleni Goumenaki, Eleni Tsantili, Costas Delis and Georgios Tsaniklidis
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Dimitrios Fanourakis: Laboratory of Quality and Safety of Agricultural Products, Landscape and Environment, Department of Agriculture, School of Agricultural Sciences, Hellenic Mediterranean University, Estavromenos, 71004 Heraklion, Greece
Nikolaos Nikoloudakis: Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, Anexartisias 57, Pareas Building, P.O. Box 50329, 3603 Lemesos, Cyprus
Konstantinos Paschalidis: Laboratory of Quality and Safety of Agricultural Products, Landscape and Environment, Department of Agriculture, School of Agricultural Sciences, Hellenic Mediterranean University, Estavromenos, 71004 Heraklion, Greece
Miltiadis V. Christopoulos: Institute of Technology of Agricultural Products, Hellenic Agricultural Organization ‘ELGO-Dimitra’ Sofokli Venizelou 1, Likovrisi, 14123 Athens, Greece
Eleni Goumenaki: Laboratory of Quality and Safety of Agricultural Products, Landscape and Environment, Department of Agriculture, School of Agricultural Sciences, Hellenic Mediterranean University, Estavromenos, 71004 Heraklion, Greece
Eleni Tsantili: Laboratory of Pomology, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos, 11855 Athens, Greece
Costas Delis: Department of Agriculture, University of the Peloponnese, Antikalamos, 24100 Kalamata, Greece
Georgios Tsaniklidis: Institute of Olive Tree, Subtropical Plants and Viticulture, Hellenic Agricultural Organization ‘ELGO-Dimitra’, Kastorias, 32A, 71307 Heraklion, Greece

Agriculture, 2022, vol. 12, issue 6, 1-13

Abstract: Beta-galactosidases ( β-GAL s) hold a key role in both fruit softening and the increase of total soluble solids during maturation. Despite determining both quality and potential postharvest longevity, β-GAL activity during ripening, with a special focus on the postharvest period, has not been adequately addressed in a spatial and temporal manner. This study focused on the regulation of gene expression in relation to the total β-GAL enzyme activity during the ripening of tomato fruit attached on the plant, as well as harvested fruit ripened for 5 d at 4, 10, or 25 °C. The transcription of genes coding for β-GAL isoenzymes was significantly affected by both the fruit maturation stage (unripe vs. red ripe) and postharvest storage temperature. Cold stressed tomatoes (4 °C) exhibited a remarkably higher transcription of most β-GAL genes compared to on-plant red ripe fruit and to fruit exposed to either 10 or 25 °C, indicating a low temperature response. However, enzymatic activity and water-soluble pectin content increased with elevated temperature exposure, peaking in fruit stored at 25 °C. β-GAL activity was present in the pericarp, while it was less detected in locular parenchyma. These findings highlight the dual role of β-GAL not only in maturation, but also in the metabolism during postharvest homeostasis and cold acclimation of tomato fruit.

Keywords: beta-galactosidase; cold stress; fruit quality; gene expression; Solanum lycopersicum L.; soluble pectins (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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