Biologia plantarum 57:201-209, 2013 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-012-0282-0

Recent advances in molecular events of fruit abscission

R. J. Xie1, L. Deng1, L. Jing3, S. L. He1, Y. T. Ma4, S. L. Yi1, Y. Q. Zheng1, L. Zheng2,*
1 Citrus Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, P.R. China
2 College of Life Science and Technology, Chongqing University of Arts and Sciences, Chongqing, P.R. China
3 College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Southwest University, Chongqing, P.R.China
4 Department of Horticulture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, P.R.China

It is widely accepted that fruit abscission is a highly regulated developmental process that is both influenced and activated in response to changing environment and plays crucial roles in the health and reproductive success of plants. Recent evidences showed that numerous genes related to metabolic and signalling pathways were coordinately implicated in regulating fruit abscission. Cross talks within hormones, between saccharides and hormones, as well as between polyamines and ethylene result in synergetic or antagonistic interactions which together play an important role in adjusting fruit abscission. Although hormones are the most studied internal factors related to abscission, the role of saccharides and polyamines during fruit abscission is emerging now. The characterizations of the molecular mechanisms of regulating fruit abscission are essential to develop effective strategies for controlling this process in plants.

Keywords: abscisic acid; cross talk; ethylene; gibberellic acid; indole acetic acid; jasmonic acid; polyamines; saccharides
Subjects: abscisic acid; cross talk; ethylene; gibberellic acid; indole acetic acid; jasmonic acid; polyamines; saccharides; fruit abscission; abscission zone

Received: February 3, 2012; Accepted: July 18, 2012; Published: June 1, 2013Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Xie, R.J., Deng, L., Jing, L., He, S.L., Ma, Y.T., Yi, S.L., Zheng, Y.Q., & Zheng, L. (2013). Recent advances in molecular events of fruit abscission. Biologia plantarum57(2), 201-209. doi: 10.1007/s10535-012-0282-0.
Download citation

References

  1. Alburquerque, N., Egea, J., Burgos, L., Martínez-Romero, D., Valero, D., Serrano, M.: The influence of polyamines on apricot ovary development and fruit set. - Ann. appl. Biol. 149: 27-33, 2006. Go to original source...
  2. Alferez, F., Singh, S., Umbach, A.L., Hochema, B., Burns, J.: Citrus abscission and Arabidopsis plant decline in response to 5-chloro-3-methyl-4-nitro-1H-pyrazole are mediated by lipid signaling. - Plant Cell Environ. 28: 1436-1449, 2005. Go to original source...
  3. Alferez, F., Zhong, G.Y., Burns, J.K.: A citrus abscission agent induces anoxia- and senescence-related gene expression in Arabidopsis. - J. exp. Bot. 58: 2451-2462, 2007. Go to original source...
  4. Aziz, A., Brun, O., Audran, J.C.: Involvement of polyamines in the control of fruitlet physiological abscission in grapevine (Vitis vinifera). - Physiol. Plant. 113: 50-58, 2001. Go to original source...
  5. Bangerth, F.: Abscission and thinning of young fruit and their regulation by plant hormones and bioregulators. - Plant Growth Regul. 31: 43-59, 2000. Go to original source...
  6. Blanusa, T., Else, M.A., Atkinson, C.J., Davies, W.J.: The regulation of sweet cherry fruit abscission by polar auxin transport. - Plant Growth Regul. 45: 189-198, 2005. Go to original source...
  7. Bleecker, A.B., Patterson, S.E.: Last exit: senescene, abscission and meristem arrest in Arabidopsis. - Plant Cell 9: 1169-1179, 1997. Go to original source...
  8. Botton, A., Eccher, G., Forcato, C., Ferrarini, A., Begheldo, M., Zermiani, M., Moscatello, S., Battistelli, A., Velasco, R., Ruperti, B., Ramina, A.: Signaling pathways mediating the induction of apple fruitlet abscission. - Plant Physiol. 155: 185-208, 2011. Go to original source...
  9. Chen, H.Q., Dekkers, K.L.: Evaluation of growth regulator inhibitors for controlling postbloom fruit drop (PFD) of citrus induced by the fungus Colletotrichum acutatum. - HortScience 41: 1317-1321, 2006. Go to original source...
  10. Dal Cin, V., Barbaro, E., Danesin, M., Murayama, H., Velasco, R., Ramina, A.: Fruitlet abscission: a cDNA-AFLP approach to study genes differentially expressed during shedding of immature fruits reveals the involvement of a putative auxin hydrogen symporter in apple (Malus domestica L. Borkh). - Gene 442: 26-36, 2009b. Go to original source...
  11. Dal Cin, V., Danesin, M., Boschetti, A., Dorigoni, A., Ramina, A.: Ethylene biosynthesis and perception in apple fruitlet abscission (Malus domestica L.Borck). - J. exp. Bot. 56: 2995-3005, 2005.
  12. Dal Cin, V., Galla, G., Boschetti, A., Dorigoni, A., Velasco, R.: Ethylene involvement in auxin transport during apple fruitlet abscission (Malus domestica L. Borkh). - In: Ramina, A., Chang, C., Giovannoni, J., Klee, H., Perata, P., Woltering, E. (ed.): Advances in Plant Ethylene Research. Pp. 89-93. Springer, Dordrecht 2007. Go to original source...
  13. Dal Cin, V., Velasco, R., Ramina, A.: Dominance induction of fruitlet shedding in Malus × domestica (L. Borkh): molecular changes associated with polar auxin transport. - BMC Plant Biol. 9: 139-152, 2009a. Go to original source...
  14. Else, M.A., Stankiewicz-Davies, A.P., Crisp, C.M., Atkinson, C.J.: The role of polar auxin transport through pedicels of Prunus avium L. in relation to fruit development and retention. - J. exp. Bot. 55: 2099-2190, 2004. Go to original source...
  15. Fernandez, O., Bethencourt, L., Quero, A., Sangwan, R.S., Clement, C.: Trehalose and plant stress responses: friend or foe? - Trends Plant Sci. 15: 409-417, 2010. Go to original source...
  16. Gil-Amado, J.A., Gomez-Jimenez, M.C.: Regulation of polyamine metabolism and biosynthetic gene expression during olive mature-fruit abscission. - Planta 235: 1221-1237, 2012. Go to original source...
  17. Gómez-Cadenas, A., Mehouachi, J., Tadeo, F.R., Primo-Millo, E., Talon, M.: Hormonal regulation of fruitlet abscission induced by carbohydrate shortage in citrus. - Planta 210: 636-643, 2000. Go to original source...
  18. Gomez-Jimenez, M.C., Paredes, M.A., Gallardo, M., Sanchez-Calle, I.M.: Mature fruit abscission is associated with upregulation of polyamine metabolism in the olive AZ. - J. Plant Physiol. 167: 1432-1441, 2010. Go to original source...
  19. Hanson, J., Smeekens, S.: Sugar perception and signaling - an update. - Curr. Opin. Plant Biol. 12: 562-567, 2009. Go to original source...
  20. Hartmond, U., Yuan, R.C., Burns, J.K., Grant, A., Kender, W.: Citrus fruit abscission induced by methyl-jasmonate. - J. amer. Soc. hort. Sci. 125: 547-552, 2000. Go to original source...
  21. Hilt, C., Bessis, R.: Abscission of grapevine fruitlets in relation to ethylene biosynthesis. - Vitis 42: 1-3, 2003.
  22. Iglesias, D.J., Tadeo, F.R., Primo-Millo, E., Talon, M.: Fruit set dependence on carbohydrate availability in citrus trees. - Tree Physiol. 23: 199-204, 2003. Go to original source...
  23. Iglesias, D.J., Tadeo, F.R., Primo-Millo, E., Talon, M.: Carbohydrate and ethylene levels related to fruitlet drop through AZ A in citrus. - Trees 20: 348-355, 2006. Go to original source...
  24. Ish-Shalom, M., Dahan, Y., Maayan, I., Irihimovitch, V.: Cloning and molecular characterization of an ethylene receptor gene, MiERS1, expressed during mango fruitlet abscission and fruit ripening. - Plant Physiol. Biochem. 49: 931-936, 2011. Go to original source...
  25. Karuppiah, K.J., Burns, J.K.: Expression of ethylene biosynthesis and signaling genes during differential abscission responses of sweet orange leaves and mature fruit. - J. amer. Soc. hort. Sci. 135: 456-464, 2010. Go to original source...
  26. Kazokas, W.C., Burns, J.K.: Cellulase activity and gene expression in citrus fruit AZs during and after ethylene treatment. - J. amer. Soc. hort. Sci. 123: 781-786, 1998. Go to original source...
  27. Kolarič, J., Pleško, M.I., Tojnko, S., Stopar, M.: Apple fruitlet ethylene evolution and MdACO1, MdACS5A, and MdACS5B expression after application of naphthaleneacetic acid, 6-benzyladenine, ethephon, or shading. - HortScience 46: 1381-1386, 2011. Go to original source...
  28. Lanahan, M.B., Yen, H.C., Giovannoni, J.J., Klee, H.J.: The Never Ripe mutation blocks ethylene perception in tomato. - Plant Cell 6: 521-530, 1994. Go to original source...
  29. Li, J.G., Yuan, R.G.: NAA and ethylene regulate expression of genes related to ethylene biosynthesis, perception, and cell wall degradation during fruit abscission and ripening in' Delicious' apples. - J. Plant Growth Regul. 27: 283-295, 2008. Go to original source...
  30. Li, J.G., Zhu, G., Yuan, R.G.: Profiling the expression of genes related to ethylene biosynthesis, ethylene perception, and cell wall degradation during fruit abscission and fruit ripening in apple. - J. amer. Soc. hort. Sci. 135: 391-401, 2010. Go to original source...
  31. Mahouachi, J., Gómez-Cadenas, A., Primo-Millo, E., Talon, M.: Abscisic acid and gibberellins in citrus fruits subjected to a series of different water conditions. - J. Plant Growth Regul. 24: 179-187, 2005. Go to original source...
  32. Mahouachi, J., Iglesias, D.J., Agustí, M., Talon, M.: Delay of early fruitlet abscission by branch girdling in citrus coincides with previous increases in carbohydrate and gibberellin concentrations. - Plant Growth Regul. 58: 15-23, 2009. Go to original source...
  33. Mao, L., Begum, D., Chuang, H.W., Budiman, M.A., Szymkowiak, E.J., Irish, E.E., Wing, R.A.: JOINTLESS is a MADS-box gene controlling tomato flower AZ development. - Nature 406: 910-913, 2000. Go to original source...
  34. McCourt, P., Creelman, R.: The ABA receptors - we report you decide. - Curr. Opin. Plant Biol. 11: 474-478, 2008.
  35. Nakano, T., Kimbara, J., Fujisawa, M., Kitagawa, M., Ihashi, N., Maeda, H., Kasumi, T., Ito, Y.: MACROCALYX and JOINTLESS interact in the transcriptional regulation of tomato fruit abscission zone development. - Plant Physiol. 158: 439-450, 2012. Go to original source...
  36. Ooms, J.J.J., Kloosterziel, K.M.L., Bartels, D., Koornneef, M., Kassen, C.M.: Acquisition of desiccation tolerance and longevity in seeds of Arabidopsis thaliana. - Plant Physiol. 102: 1185-1191, 1993. Go to original source...
  37. Parra-Lobato, M.C., Gomez-Jimenez, M.C.: Polyamine-induced modulation of genes involved in ethylene biosynthesis and signaling pathways and nitric oxide productionduring olive mature fruit abscission. - J. exp. Bot. 62: 4447-4465, 2011. Go to original source...
  38. Peleg, Z., Blumwald, E.: Hormone balance and abiotic stress tolerance in crop plants. - Curr. Opin. Plant Biol. 14: 290-295, 2011. Go to original source...
  39. Pierik, R.L.M.: Hormonal regulation of secondary abscission in pear pedicels in vitro. - Plant Physiol. 48: 5-8, 1980. Go to original source...
  40. Pozo, L., Yuan, R., Kostenyyuk, I., Alferez, F., Zhong, G.Y., Burns, J.K.: Differential effects of 1-methylcyclopropene on citrus leaf and mature fruit abscission. - J. amer. Soc. hort. Sci. 129: 473-478, 2004. Go to original source...
  41. Racskó, J., Soltész, M., Szabó, Z., Nyéju, J.: Fruit drop: II. Biological background of flower and fruit drop. - Int. J. hort. Sci. 12: 103-108, 2006. Go to original source...
  42. Rasori, A., Ruperti, B., Bonghi, C., Tonutti, P., Ramina, A.: Characterization of two putative ethylene receptor genes expressed during peach fruit development and abscission. - J. exp. Bot. 53: 2333-2339, 2002. Go to original source...
  43. Rolland, F., Baena-Gonzalez, E., Sheen, J.: Sugar sensing and signaling in plants: conserved and novel mechanisms. - Annu. Rev. Plant Biol. 57: 675-709, 2006. Go to original source...
  44. Ruiz, R., García-Luis, A., Monerri, C., Guardiola, J.L.: Carbohydrate availability in relation to fruitlet abscission in citrus. - Ann. Bot. 87: 805-812, 2001. Go to original source...
  45. Sexton, R., Roberts, J.: Cell biology of abscission. - Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. 33: 133-162, 1982. Go to original source...
  46. Schumacher, K., Schmitt, T., Rossberg, M., Schmitz, G., Theres, K.: The lateral suppressor (Ls) gene of tomato encodes a new member of the VHIID protein family. - Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. USA 96: 290-295, 1999. Go to original source...
  47. Smith, E., Whiting, M.: Effect of ethephon on sweet cherry pedicel-fruit retention force and quality is cultivar dependent. - Plant Growth Regul. 60: 213-223, 2010. Go to original source...
  48. Sun, L.X., Bukovac, M.J., Forsline, P.L., Nocker, S.V.: Natural variation in fruit abscission-related traits in apple (Malus). - Euphytica 165: 55-67, 2009. Go to original source...
  49. Taesakul, P., Pradisthakarn, N., Chantaksinopas, S., Siriphanich, J.: Longkong fruit abscission and its control. - Postharvest Biol. Technol. 64: 91-93, 1012.
  50. Taylor, J.E., Whitelaw, C.A.: Signals in abscission. - New Phytol. 151: 323-339, 2001. Go to original source...
  51. Vandenbussche, F., Straeten, V.D.: One for all and all for: cross-talk of multiple signals controlling the plant phenotype. - J. Plant Growth Regul. 26: 178-187, 2007. Go to original source...
  52. Wang, X.M.: Lipid signaling. - Curr. Opin. Plant Biol. 7: 392-336, 2004. Go to original source...
  53. Whitelaw, C.A., Lyssenko, N.N., Chen, L., Zhou, D., Mattoo, A.K., Tucker, M.L.: Delayed abscission and shorter internodes correlated with a reduction in the ethylene receptor LeETR1 transcript in transgenic tomato. - Plant Physiol. 128: 978-987, 2002. Go to original source...
  54. Wiersma, P.A., Zhang, H., Lu, C., Quail, A., Toivonen, P.M.A.: Survey of the expression of genes for ethylene synthesis and perception during maturation and ripening of 'sunrise' and 'Golden Delicious' apple fruit. - Postharvest Biol. Technol. 44: 204-211, 2007. Go to original source...
  55. Wu, X.M., Yu, W.Y., Han, L.B., Li, C.L., Wang, H.Y., Zhong, N.Q., Yao, Y., Xia, G.X.: The tobacco BLADE-ONPETIOLE2 gene mediates differentiation of the corolla abscission zone by controlling longitudinal cell expansion. - Plant Physiol. 159: 835-850, 2012. Go to original source...
  56. Wu, Z.C., Burns, J.K.: Isolation and characterization of a cDNA encoding a lipid transfer protein expressed in 'Valencia' orange during abscission. - J. exp. Bot. 54: 1183-1191, 2003. Go to original source...
  57. Wu, Z.C., Burns, J.K.: A β-galactosidase gene is expressed during mature fruit abscission of 'Valencia' orange (Citrus sinensis). - J. exp. Bot. 55: 1483-1490, 2004. Go to original source...
  58. Yuan, R.C., Kender, W.J., Burns, J.K.: Young fruit and auxin transport inhibitors affect the response mature 'Valencia' oranges to abscission materials via changing endogenous plant hormones. - J. amer. Soc. hort. Sci. 128: 302-308, 2003. Go to original source...
  59. Yuan, R.G., Li, J.G.: Effect of sprayable 1-MCP, AVG, and NAA on ethylene biosynthesis, preharvest fruit drop, fruit maturity, and quality of 'Delicious' apple. - Hort Science 43: 1454-1460, 2008. Go to original source...
  60. Zhou, C.J., Lakso, A.N., Robinson, T.L., Gan, S.S.: Isolation and characterization of genes associated with shade-induced apple abscission. - Mol. Genet. Genomics 280: 83-92, 2008. Go to original source...
  61. Zhu, H., Beers, E.P., Yuan, R.C.: Aminoethoxyvinylglycine inhibits fruit abscission induced by naphthaleneacetic acid and associated relationships with expression of genes for ethylene biosynthesis, perception, and cell wall degradation in 'Delicious' apple. - J. amer. Soc. hort. Sci. 133: 727-734, 2008. Go to original source...
  62. Zhu, H., Yuan, R.G.: Effects of 1-methylcyclopropene and naphthaleneacetic acid on fruit set and expression of genes related to ethylene biosynthesis and perception and cell wall degradation in apple. - J. amer. Soc. hort. Sci. 135: 402-409, 2010. Go to original source...
  63. Zhu, H., Dardick, C.D., Beers, E.P., Callanhan, A.M., Xia, R., Yuan, R.C.: Transcriptomics of shading-induced and NAA-induced abscission in apple (Malus domestica) reveals a shared pathway involving reduced photosynthesis, alterations in carbohydrate transport and signaling and hormone crosstalk. - BMC Plant Biol. 11:138-157, 2011. Go to original source...