AsES induces physiological and biochemical changes of abocado fruit during ripening

PERATO, SILVIA MARISA; MARTINEZ ZAMORA, M.G.; DÍAZ RICCI, JUAN C.

Córdoba

Congreso; 52º Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Investigaciones en Bioquímica y Biología Molecular (SAIB); 2016

SAIB

AsES is a plant elicitor protein that induces disease resistance in strawberry and Arabidopsis thaliana plants, triggering SA, JA and ET dependent signaling. The importance of ethylene in regulating fruit ripening has been clearly demonstrated from studies that suppressed ethylene biosynthesis or action. The objective of this study was to characterize the physiological and biochemical responses of the climacteric fruit avocado (Persea americana) treated with AsES and to evaluate its utility in postharvest for regulating the ripening of avocado fruit. The results showed that AsES treatment increases respiration rate, weight loss and soluble solids content, while decreases firmness of treated fruits, compared to the control not treated fruits. In addition, ethylene production increases after AsES treatment at early stages of ripening (3 dpt), while in control fruits the maximum production occurs later (6 dpt). This study is the first report of the influence of a defence elicitor on the physiological and biochemical changes regulated by ethylene in avocado fruit during ripening, causing accelerated ripening and softening during storage. These results uncover the potential use of AsES in postharvest management of ripening, providing new insight for further research on the relationship between fruit quality and induction of disease resistance in AsES-treated fruits.