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l-Ascorbic acid metabolism in parthenocarpic and seeded cherry tomatoes

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Abstract

The auxin treatment in tomato plants during anthesis has been extensively used for setting fruits in adverse climatic conditions (e.g., low temperatures and inadequate light), which is well known that reduces pollen availability and fertility. Since auxin application may affect fruit composition and quality, we examined l-ascorbic acid metabolism in seeded fruit (set by natural pollination) and parthenocarpic fruit (set by auxin) in cherry tomato cv. Conchita. Specifically, we studied the oxidized and total ascorbic acid contents, the expression of all characterized genes of l-ascorbic acid metabolism, the activity of ascorbate peroxidase and dehydroascorbate reductase and the immunolocalization of ascorbate peroxidase. Differences were detected between seeded and parthenocarpic fruits, in the expression of some of the genes of ascorbic acid metabolism. However, strong presence of l-ascorbic acid peroxidase protein was detected on the developing seeds. Our data indicate that induced parthenocarpy in auxin treated plants has a significant influence in ascorbic acid metabolism comparing to seeded tomato fruits.

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Abbreviations

AsA:

l-Ascorbic acid

DHA:

Dehydroascorbic acid

tAsA:

Total ascorbate (reduced AsA + DHA)

ImG:

Immature green

Mg:

Mature green

Br:

Breaker

RR:

Red ripe

APX:

Ascorbate peroxidase

MDHAR:

Monodehydroascorbate reductase

DHAR:

Dehydroascorbate reductase

GR:

Glutathione reductase

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Morphology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855, Botanikos, Athens, Greece

    Georgios Tsaniklidis & Georgios Aivalakis

  2. Department of Agricultural Technology, Technological Institute of Kalamata, 24100, Antikalamos, Kalamata, Greece

    Costas Delis

  3. Plant Breeding and Biometry Laboratory, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 118 55, Athens, Greece

    Nikolaos Nikoloudakis

  4. Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855, Botanikos, Athens, Greece

    Panayotis Katinakis

  5. Laboratory of Vegetable Production, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855, Athens, Greece

    Harold Christopher Passam

Authors
  1. Georgios Tsaniklidis
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  2. Costas Delis
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  3. Nikolaos Nikoloudakis
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  4. Panayotis Katinakis
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  5. Harold Christopher Passam
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  6. Georgios Aivalakis
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Correspondence to Georgios Tsaniklidis.

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Tsaniklidis, G., Delis, C., Nikoloudakis, N. et al. l-Ascorbic acid metabolism in parthenocarpic and seeded cherry tomatoes. Plant Growth Regul 72, 141–153 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-013-9845-0

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