Effect of potassium on the expression of key genes involved in sorbitol metabolism of pear fruit

Potassium (K) is vital for fruit quality improvement.
Sorbitol is the main important form of transported photosynthetic product from the leaf to various organs in Rosaceae plant.
Four K₂O levels of 0 (K0), 150 (K1), 300 (K2) and 450 (K3) kg ha^-1 were applied to the pear (Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd.) trees to study the effect of K on the expression of key genes involved in sorbitol metabolism of pear fruit.
The results showed that K increased the single fruit weight and yield, leading to a higher yield (16.7% on average) than K0. The fruit sorbitol concentration was significantly increased by different four K₂O levels.
During the young fruit stage, the expression of PbSDH2 and PbSDH4 in fruits was up-regulated by K, while it was on the contrary at maturity.
Meanwhile, the up-regulation of PbS6PDH3, PbSDH12, PbSDH13, PbSDH14 and PbSOT22 in fruits was all promoted by K from the enlargement stage II to maturity stage.
In conclusion, K could regulate expression of key genes involved in sorbitol metabolism in fruit, leading to the sugar accumulation for the improvement of fruit quality.

XIII International Symposium on Plant Bioregulators in Fruit Production

C.W. Shen, C.X. Dong, Y.C. Xu

S6PDH, SDH, SOT

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1206.11