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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #160419
Title: CORRELATION OF INCREASED ALTERNATIVE OXIDASE GENE EXPRESSION WITH REDUCED CHILLING INJURY IN COLD-STORED TOMATOES (LYCOPERSICON ESCULENTUM)

Author
item Wang, Chien
item FUNG, RAYMOND - HORT RES,NEW ZEALAND
item Smith, David
item Gross, Kenneth
item TAO, YANG - HORT RES,NEW ZEALAND
item TIAN, MEISHENG - HORT RES, NEW ZEALAND

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/31/2004
Publication Date: 7/15/2004
Citation: Wang, C.Y., Fung, R.W., Smith, D.L., Gross, K.C., Tao, Y., Tian, M. 2004. Correlation of increased alternative oxidase gene expression with reduced chilling injury in cold-stored tomatoes (lycopersicon esculentum) [abstract]. HortScience. 39:806.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Methyl salicylate (MeSA) and Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatments increased chilling resistance of light red tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum cv Beefsteak) and extended shelf life and fresh-cut quality. We previously showed induction of AOX expression by low temperature and that induction of AOX transcript by MeSA and MeJA is correlated with resistance against chilling injury in peppers. Here, we investigate tomato, which is genetically closely related to peppers and belongs to the same Solanaceae family. In particular, we used 4 EST tomato clones of AOX from the public database that belong to two distinctly related families, 1 and 2 defined in plants. Three clones designated as LeAOX1a, 1b and 1c and the fourth clone as LeAOX2. Probes for these four genes were designed and Southern blotting done to confirm that they do not cross-hybridize. We will present data from Southern, Northern hybridization and RT-PCR to show: (1) gene copy number of each of these AOX members in the tomato genome, (2) gene-specific expression profiles in response to MeSA and MeJA in cold stored tomato and (3) the relative transcript abundance of these four AOX genes.