Identification of genes differentially expressed during ripening of banana

• Published in: Journal of plant physiology Vol. 164; no. 8; pp. 1037 - 1050
• Main Authors: Manrique-Trujillo, Sandra Mabel, Ramírez-López, Ana Cecilia, Ibarra-Laclette, Enrique, Angel Gómez-Lim, Miguel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Jena Elsevier GmbH 01.08.2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; alcohol dehydrogenase; Aroma; Banana ripening; bananas; biochemical pathways; Biological and medical sciences; chorismate mutase; complementary DNA; Detoxification; Differential screening; DNA libraries; DNA, Complementary - genetics; DNA, Plant - genetics; Economic plant physiology; expressed sequence tags; Fructification, ripening. Postharvest physiology; Fruit - physiology; fruit pulp; fruiting; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gene expression regulation; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Gene Library; Growth and development; methyltransferases; Musa - genetics; Musa - growth & development; Musa acuminata; Nucleic Acid Hybridization; orcinol O-methyltransferase; peel color index; peels; plant biochemistry; plant genetics; plant proteins; ripening; Suppression subtractive hybridization; ubiquitin-protein ligase; PCD; Suppression subtractive hybridization; Differential screening; EST; MT; PCI; Detoxification; Banana ripening; SSH; Aroma; Monocotyledones; Musaceae; Hybridization; Ripening; Musa; Gene; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta
• ISSN: 0176-1617; 1618-1328
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2006.07.007

The banana ( Musa acuminata, subgroup Cavendish ‘Grand Nain’) is a climacteric fruit of economic importance. A better understanding of the banana ripening process is needed to improve fruit quality and to extend shelf life. Eighty-four up-regulated unigenes were identified by differential screening of a banana fruit cDNA subtraction library at a late ripening stage. The ripening stages in this study were defined according to the peel color index (PCI). Unigene sequences were analyzed with different databases to assign a putative identification. The expression patterns of 36 transcripts confirmed as positive by differential screening were analyzed comparing the PCI 1, PCI 5 and PCI 7 ripening stages. Expression profiles were obtained for unigenes annotated as orcinol O-methyltransferase, putative alcohol dehydrogenase, ubiquitin-protein ligase, chorismate mutase and two unigenes with non-significant matches with any reported sequence. Similar expression profiles were observed in banana pulp and peel. Our results show differential expression of a group of genes involved in processes associated with fruit ripening, such as stress, detoxification, cytoskeleton and biosynthesis of volatile compounds. Some of the identified genes had not been characterized in banana fruit. Besides providing an overview of gene expression programs and metabolic pathways at late stages of banana fruit ripening, this study contributes to increasing the information available on banana fruit ESTs.