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Characterization of cDNAs associated with lignification and their expression profiles in loquat fruit with different lignin accumulation

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Abstract

The ripening fruit of two loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) cultivars with different levels of lignin accumulation provide an intriguing example of lignification in flesh tissue. Increase in firmness as a result of lignification in ripening red-fleshed Luoyangqing (LYQ) fruit was confirmed, whereas white-fleshed Baisha (BS) fruit softened without lignification. Six cDNAs associated with the lignification pathway, i.e. EjPAL1, EjPAL2 (phenylalanine ammonia lyase, PAL, EC 4.3.1.5), Ej4CL (4-coumarate: coenzyme A ligase, 4CL, EC 6.2.1.12), EjCAD1, EjCAD2 (cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase, CAD, EC 1.1.1.195) and EjPOD (peroxidase, POD), were cloned from flesh tissue of LYQ fruit. Expression profiles of the six corresponding genes differed greatly in different tissues, and during fruit development and ripening in both LYQ and BS cultivars. Associated activities of PAL, 4CL, CAD, and POD enzymes were also measured. CAD and POD enzyme activities and the expression of EjCAD1 and EjPOD genes were most closely associated temporally with lignification of loquat flesh tissue. Levels of EjCAD1 transcripts were particularly aligned with changes in lignification during ripening as modified either by ethylene treatment or low temperature conditioning. The two PAL genes showed different expression patterns during fruit development, with EjPAL1 strongly expressed in mature fruit and EjPAL2 only expressed in early stages of development. In addition, EjCAD1 expression was stimulated by low temperature and may contribute to low temperature injury in the fruit. Our integrated data on lignin, monolignol precursors, and associated enzymes and genes, provide a consistent model of fruit lignification.

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Abbreviations

LYQ:

cv. Luoyangqing

BS:

cv. Baisha

PAL:

Phenylalanine ammonia lyase

4CL:

4-Coumarate: coenzyme A ligase

CAD:

Cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase

POD:

Peroxidase

LTC:

Low temperature conditioning

WAA:

Weeks after anthesis

Q-PCR:

Real-time quantitative PCR

Ct:

Cycle threshold

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Acknowledgments

The work was financially supported by the Project of National Natural Science Foundation of China (30600423), National Project of Scientific and Technical Supporting Programs Funded by Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2006BAD22B05), the Project of Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province (Z306010), the Project of the Science and Technology Department of Zhejiang Province, China (2007C12069) and the 111 project (B06014). It is also part of a collaborative program between Zhejiang University and The Horticulture and Food Research Institute of NZ.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Fruit Molecular Physiology and Biotechnology/The State Agriculture Ministry Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Growth, Development and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Huajiachi Campus, 310029, Hangzhou, China

    Lan Lan Shan, Xian Li, Ping Wang, Bo Zhang, Chong De Sun, Wang Shu Zhang, Chang Jie Xu & Kun Song Chen

  2. College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, 310018, Hangzhou, China

    Chong Cai

  3. Forestry Bureau of Ningbo City, 315000, Ningbo, China

    Wang Shu Zhang

  4. The Horticulture and Food Research Institute of New Zealand, Private Bag 92169, Auckland, New Zealand

    Ian Ferguson

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  1. Lan Lan Shan
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  2. Xian Li
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  3. Ping Wang
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  10. Kun Song Chen
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Correspondence to Kun Song Chen.

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Lan Lan Shan and Xian Li contributed equally to this work.

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Shan, L.L., Li, X., Wang, P. et al. Characterization of cDNAs associated with lignification and their expression profiles in loquat fruit with different lignin accumulation. Planta 227, 1243–1254 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-008-0696-2

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