CHANGES IN PROTEIN AND MRNA EXPRESSION DURING COLD STORAGE OF ‘COX’S ORANGE PIPPIN’ APPLE FRUIT

‘Cox’s Orange Pippin’ apple fruit were held at either 0°C or 4°C for up to 12 weeks.
At intervals during cold storage, fruit quality was assessed, and protein and RNA extracted from samples of cortical tissue.
Changes in the protein populations were examined by SDS-PAGE, and RNA was probed with ripening-related and cold-inducible cDNA clones.
Fruit held at 0°C was firmer and greener and had lower internal ethylene concentrations than those held at 4°C, but fruit at 0°C developed low temperature breakdown.
There were few changes in protein populations in response to low temperature.
Specific changes in RNA expression were found, both between temperature and during storage at either temperature.
Expression of RNA complementary to pAAS4 and pAP4, clones associated with ethylene biosynthetic enzymes, increased during storage and was greater at 4°C than at 0°C. Expression of RNA complementary to one of three cold-regulated clones from barley, and a cold-induced clone from pear fruit was also detected.
The results indicate there are changes in gene expression in apple fruit under cold storage conditions.
Such changes may contribute to cold tolerance.

International Symposium on Pre- and Postharvest Physiology of Pome-fruit

B.A. Cregoe, G.S. Ross, C.B. Watkins

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1993.326.35