Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / The growth and development of apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.) fruit occurs over a period of about 150 days after anthesis to full ripeness. During this period morphological and physiological changes occur defining fruit quality. These changes are a result of spatial and temporal patterns of gene expression during fruit development as regulated by environmental, genetic and environmental-by-genetic factors. A number of previous studies partially characterised the transcriptomes of apple leaf, fruit pulp, whole fruit, and peel plus pulp tissues, using cDNA micro arrays and other PCR based technologies. These studies, however, remain limited in throughput and specificity for transcripts of low abundance. Hence, the aim of this project was to apply a high throughput technique to characterise the full mRNA transcriptome of the ‘Golden Delicious’ fruit peels and pulp tissues in order to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the morphophysiological changes that occur during fruit development.

Dispersal is a key trait across biology. Within plants, a variety of explosive seed dispersal mechanisms are seen. Whilst ecological and mechanical studies have described this important evolutionary adaptation in many species, a genetic and developmental understanding of explosive seed dispersal is lacking. In this thesis, the morphology and development of the explosive seed pods of Cardamine hirsuta – a member of the Brassicaceae – are characterised in detail, with reference to its close relative, the model organism A. thaliana. Comparison of fruit morphology between these two species and across other Brassicacean species generated hypotheses regarding the function and polarity of morphological features. In order to identify genes that are necessary for C. hirsuta fruit development, a genetic screen was conducted and a range of mutants identified and subsequently characterised. Analysis of the indehiscent valveless (val) mutant revealed a loss of valve tissue and an expansion of valve margin identity in the silique. Mapping and sequencing identified a mutation in the MADS-box gene FRUITFULL (FUL), which results in a truncated protein, as the likely cause of the val phenotype. Consideration of ful mutants in C. hirsuta and A. thaliana allowed comparison of the genetic patterning of the fruit dehiscence zone in these two species. The genetic interactions between fruit mutants characterised in this thesis and mutants in shoot patterning genes revealed common regulatory networks underlying leaf and fruit development in C. hirsuta. Together, comparison of wild-type and mutant C. hirsuta siliques with those of A. thaliana and other Brassicacean species suggests that specialised cell layers within the valve silique region are of key importance to C. hirsuta’s explosive dehiscence mechanism.

As características relacionadas à frutificação do cafeeiro são altamente influenciadas pelo ambiente. Portanto, a associação de análises agronômicas, fenológicas e genômicas são necessárias para o entendimento desse processo. Esses estudos fazem parte do programa de melhoramento genético do café, com o objetivo de obter plantas com maior uniformidade de maturação, duração de ciclo e bebidas específicas. Nesse contexto, os objetivos desse trabalho foram estabelecer padrões agronômicos e fenológicos comparativos entre diferentes cultivares e safras de café, caracterizar genes diferencialmente expressos durante o desenvolvimento dos frutos de cafeeiro arábica e correlacionar genes diferencialmente expressos com atributos fenológicos e agronômicos. Os estudos foram realizados no Centro de Café do IAC em Campinas, SP. As cultivares de Coffea arabica utilizadas foram: Mundo Novo, Catuaí Vermelho, Icatu Vermelho, Obatã e Icatu Precoce, nas safras de 2004/2005 e 2005/2006. Os atributos fenológicos foram avaliados com base no desenvolvimento do ciclo fenológico e na porcentagem de frutos maduros na colheita. As avaliações agronômicas foram avaliadas baseadas nas características tecnológicas do produto como, produção e rendimento, tipos de sementes e tamanho dos grãos. A expressão gênica diferencial foi avaliada por método semi-quantitativo e quantitativo RT-PCR em todos os estádios de desenvolvimento dos frutos. Seqüências de genes específicos foram identificadas por buscas em bancos de dados do Programa Genoma Café e no Genbank, possibilitando a construção de oligonucleotídeos específicos para cada gene. Em geral, os resultados das análises confirmaram a influência ambiental no desenvolvimento dos frutos do cafeeiro, especialmente as variações hídricas e de temperatura. Diferenças significativas foram identificadas entre as cultivares, em relação aos atributos fenológicos e agronômicos, principalmente na safra 2005/2006 quando foi possível discriminar as cultivares quanto à duração do ciclo fenológico. A expressão gênica durante o desenvolvimento dos frutos, seguiu padrão similar entre as cultivares, mesmo comparando diferentes anos agrícolas. Conseqüentemente, essas análises permitiram a identificação de genes candidatos a serem usados como marcadores genéticos das fases de frutificação de C. arabica, como: crescimento (PAL, CHS e manB), transição do crescimento para o início da maturação (csp1, GLA e ER5), maturação e amadurecimento (CS, AAT, ACS, ACO, ETR e ICL) e transição da maturação para o amadurecimento (PAL). Esses genes marcadores em associação com atributos agronômicos e fenológicos, podem ser utilizados como parâmetros moleculares para a definição de estádios adequados à colheita, assegurando composição final específica dos frutos e da qualidade da bebida. / Coffee fruit development and ripening are biological processes largely influenced by environmental conditions. Therefore, the association of agronomic, phenologic and genomic analyses is necessary for a broad comprehension of these processes. This type of approach is already part of coffee breeding programs, which aimed the development of coffee cultivars bearing maturation uniformity, controlled life cycle and specific cup qualities. In this context, the main objectives of this dissertation are to establish comparative patterns of fruit ripening among different coffee cultivars, to characterize gene expression during fruit development, and to correlate possible differential gene expression with agronomic and phenologic traits. All investigations were performed at the experimental field of the Coffee Center/IAC, Campinas, SP. The Coffea arabica cultivars Mundo Novo, Catuaí Vermelho, Icatu Vermelho, Obatã and Icatu Precoce, years 2004/2005 and 2005/2006, were evaluated regarding phenologic cycle and percentage of cherry fruits at harvesting time. Agronomic traits evaluated included productivity and outturn, type of seeds and grain size. Differential gene expression was evaluated through semi-quantitative and quantitative RT-PCR, in all stages of fruit development. Sequences of selected genes were identified through blast searches in the database of the Coffee Genome EST Project and the Genbank, and used to design gene-specific primers. In general, analyzed results confirmed the environmental influence over fruit development, especially temperature variations during evaluated seasons. Significant differences were identified among cultivars regarding phenologic and agronomic traits, especially in the year 2005/2006 where life cycle duration allowed cultivar discrimination. Gene expression during fruit development followed a similar pattern among evaluated cultivars, even when comparing different harvesting years. Therefore, these patterns allowed the identification of candidate genes for use as genetic markers of C. arabica fruit development phases, such as growing (PAL, CHS and manB), transition from growing to maturation (csp1, GLA, ER), maturation and ripening (CS, AAT, ACS, ACO, ETR, ICL) and transition from maturation to ripening (PAL). These gene-markers, in association with agronomic and phenological traits, may be used as molecular parameters for the definition of best colleting stage, ensuring specific final coffee fruit composition and cup quality.

by Ng Tak Pan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 151-168). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / Acknowledgements --- p.iv / Abbreviations --- p.v / Table of Contents --- p.vi / List of Figures --- p.x / List of Tables --- p.xiii / Chapter Chapter One --- Literature Review / Chapter 1.1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Nutraceutical and Medicinal Properties of L. edodes --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Nutritional value --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Hypocholesterolaemic Effect --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Anti-tumor Effect --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- Anti-viral Effect --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2.5 --- Immunopotentiating Effect --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3 --- Life cycle of L. edodes --- p.7 / Chapter 1.4 --- Environmental factors affecting mycelial growth and fruit body --- p.11 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Nutrient requirement --- p.11 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Physical and chemical factors --- p.12 / Chapter 1.5 --- Molecular studies on mushroom development --- p.15 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- Mating-type genes --- p.15 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- Hydrophobins --- p.19 / Chapter 1.5.3 --- Fruiting regulatory genes --- p.23 / Chapter 1.5.4 --- Molecular studies on fruit body development of I. edodes --- p.24 / Chapter 1.5.4.1 --- Identification of L. edodes genes --- p.24 / Chapter 1.5.4.2 --- Functional characterization of L. edodes genes --- p.27 / Chapter 1.5.4.3 --- Transformation in L. edodes --- p.28 / Chapter Chapter Two --- Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) of L. edodes / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.30 / Chapter 2.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Generation of expressed sequence tag --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.1.1 --- Mushroom cultivation and RNA extraction --- p.33 / Chapter 2.2.1.2 --- Construction of primordium cDNA library --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.1.3 --- Mass excision of pBK-CMV plasmid --- p.34 / Chapter 2.2.1.4 --- Random screening of mass excised cDNA clone --- p.38 / Chapter 2.2.1.5 --- Isolation of recombinant plasmid --- p.38 / Chapter 2.2.1.6 --- Generation of 3´ة end partially sequence --- p.39 / Chapter 2.2.1.7 --- Sequence analysis --- p.40 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Reverse dot-blot Hybridization --- p.40 / Chapter 2.2.2.1 --- PCR amplification of cDNA clone --- p.40 / Chapter 2.2.2.2 --- Membrane preparation --- p.40 / Chapter 2.2.2.3 --- cDNA probe preparation --- p.41 / Chapter 2.2.2.4 --- Hybridization --- p.42 / Chapter 2.2.2.5 --- Stringent washing and autoradiography --- p.43 / Chapter 2.3 --- Results --- p.44 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Construction of primordium cDNA library --- p.44 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Screening of recombinant clone --- p.44 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Isolation and reconfirmation of recombinant plasmid --- p.46 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Generation of EST --- p.47 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- EST identity --- p.47 / Chapter 2.3.6 --- Reverse dot-blot hybridization --- p.56 / Chapter 2.3.7 --- Analysis of hybridization signal --- p.60 / Chapter 2.4 --- Discussion --- p.71 / Chapter Chapter Three --- Sequence Analysis and Transcriptional Profiling of Genes Encoding GTP-binding Proteins / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.78 / Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.82 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Sequence manipulation --- p.82 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Northern blot hybridization --- p.82 / Chapter 3.2.2.1 --- RNA fragmentation by formaldehyde gel electrophoresis --- p.82 / Chapter 3.2.2.2 --- RNA fixation by capillary method --- p.83 / Chapter 3.2.2.3 --- Probe preparation --- p.84 / Chapter 3.2.2.4 --- Hybridization --- p.85 / Chapter 3.2.2.5 --- Stringent washing and autoradiography --- p.85 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Real-Time SYBR Green RT-PCR --- p.85 / Chapter 3.2.3.1 --- Primer design --- p.85 / Chapter 3.2.3.2 --- RT-PCR reaction --- p.86 / Chapter 3.3 --- Results --- p.88 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Sequence manipulation --- p.88 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Transcriptional analysis --- p.103 / Chapter 3.4 --- Discussion --- p.108 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Heterotrimeric G proteins --- p.108 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Ras-related protein Rab7 --- p.112 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Developmentally regulated GTP-binding protein --- p.113 / Chapter Chapter Four --- Yeast Complementation and Over-expression tests of Le.Gβ1 and Le.Gγ1 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.115 / Chapter 4.2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.120 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- "Yeast strains, media and yeast vectors" --- p.120 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Primer design --- p.121 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- RT-PCR Amplification of Le.Gβ1 and Le.Gγ1 --- p.121 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Purification of PCR products --- p.122 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- Enzymatic digestion and purification --- p.122 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- Ligation and E. coli transformation --- p.122 / Chapter 4.2.7 --- PCR screening of E. coli transformants --- p.124 / Chapter 4.2.8 --- Plasmids extraction --- p.124 / Chapter 4.2.9 --- Yeast transformation --- p.124 / Chapter 4.2.10 --- Mating test --- p.125 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results --- p.129 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Cloning of Le.Gβ1 and Le.Gγ1 --- p.129 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Yeast transformation --- p.129 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Mating test --- p.130 / Chapter 4.4 --- Discussion --- p.141 / Chapter Chapter Five --- General Discussion --- p.144 / References --- p.151

As características relacionadas à frutificação do cafeeiro são altamente influenciadas pelo ambiente. Portanto, a associação de análises agronômicas, fenológicas e genômicas são necessárias para o entendimento desse processo. Esses estudos fazem parte do programa de melhoramento genético do café, com o objetivo de obter plantas com maior uniformidade de maturação, duração de ciclo e bebidas específicas. Nesse contexto, os objetivos desse trabalho foram estabelecer padrões agronômicos e fenológicos comparativos entre diferentes cultivares e safras de café, caracterizar genes diferencialmente expressos durante o desenvolvimento dos frutos de cafeeiro arábica e correlacionar genes diferencialmente expressos com atributos fenológicos e agronômicos. Os estudos foram realizados no Centro de Café do IAC em Campinas, SP. As cultivares de Coffea arabica utilizadas foram: Mundo Novo, Catuaí Vermelho, Icatu Vermelho, Obatã e Icatu Precoce, nas safras de 2004/2005 e 2005/2006. Os atributos fenológicos foram avaliados com base no desenvolvimento do ciclo fenológico e na porcentagem de frutos maduros na colheita. As avaliações agronômicas foram avaliadas baseadas nas características tecnológicas do produto como, produção e rendimento, tipos de sementes e tamanho dos grãos. A expressão gênica diferencial foi avaliada por método semi-quantitativo e quantitativo RT-PCR em todos os estádios de desenvolvimento dos frutos. Seqüências de genes específicos foram identificadas por buscas em bancos de dados do Programa Genoma Café e no Genbank, possibilitando a construção de oligonucleotídeos específicos para cada gene. Em geral, os resultados das análises confirmaram a influência ambiental no desenvolvimento dos frutos do cafeeiro, especialmente as variações hídricas e de temperatura. Diferenças significativas foram identificadas entre as cultivares, em relação aos atributos fenológicos e agronômicos, principalmente na safra 2005/2006 quando foi possível discriminar as cultivares quanto à duração do ciclo fenológico. A expressão gênica durante o desenvolvimento dos frutos, seguiu padrão similar entre as cultivares, mesmo comparando diferentes anos agrícolas. Conseqüentemente, essas análises permitiram a identificação de genes candidatos a serem usados como marcadores genéticos das fases de frutificação de C. arabica, como: crescimento (PAL, CHS e manB), transição do crescimento para o início da maturação (csp1, GLA e ER5), maturação e amadurecimento (CS, AAT, ACS, ACO, ETR e ICL) e transição da maturação para o amadurecimento (PAL). Esses genes marcadores em associação com atributos agronômicos e fenológicos, podem ser utilizados como parâmetros moleculares para a definição de estádios adequados à colheita, assegurando composição final específica dos frutos e da qualidade da bebida. / Coffee fruit development and ripening are biological processes largely influenced by environmental conditions. Therefore, the association of agronomic, phenologic and genomic analyses is necessary for a broad comprehension of these processes. This type of approach is already part of coffee breeding programs, which aimed the development of coffee cultivars bearing maturation uniformity, controlled life cycle and specific cup qualities. In this context, the main objectives of this dissertation are to establish comparative patterns of fruit ripening among different coffee cultivars, to characterize gene expression during fruit development, and to correlate possible differential gene expression with agronomic and phenologic traits. All investigations were performed at the experimental field of the Coffee Center/IAC, Campinas, SP. The Coffea arabica cultivars Mundo Novo, Catuaí Vermelho, Icatu Vermelho, Obatã and Icatu Precoce, years 2004/2005 and 2005/2006, were evaluated regarding phenologic cycle and percentage of cherry fruits at harvesting time. Agronomic traits evaluated included productivity and outturn, type of seeds and grain size. Differential gene expression was evaluated through semi-quantitative and quantitative RT-PCR, in all stages of fruit development. Sequences of selected genes were identified through blast searches in the database of the Coffee Genome EST Project and the Genbank, and used to design gene-specific primers. In general, analyzed results confirmed the environmental influence over fruit development, especially temperature variations during evaluated seasons. Significant differences were identified among cultivars regarding phenologic and agronomic traits, especially in the year 2005/2006 where life cycle duration allowed cultivar discrimination. Gene expression during fruit development followed a similar pattern among evaluated cultivars, even when comparing different harvesting years. Therefore, these patterns allowed the identification of candidate genes for use as genetic markers of C. arabica fruit development phases, such as growing (PAL, CHS and manB), transition from growing to maturation (csp1, GLA, ER), maturation and ripening (CS, AAT, ACS, ACO, ETR, ICL) and transition from maturation to ripening (PAL). These gene-markers, in association with agronomic and phenological traits, may be used as molecular parameters for the definition of best colleting stage, ensuring specific final coffee fruit composition and cup quality.

There is increasing interest in special heptose carbohydrates, their multifunctional roles from a plant physiological view point in fruit growth and development as well as in the whole plant in general due to their potential in mitigating photo-oxidative injury to the whole plant system and the image of avocado as ‘health fruit’. Studies have been carried out to investigate the role of avocado heptoses, rare carbohydrates predominantly produced in avocado. Several authors have documented various research findings and speculated on multifunctional roles of avocado special sugars. However, few reports have made an attempt to elucidate the multifunctional roles of avocado heptose carbohydrates as: ‘sources of energy’, storage and phloem-mobile transport sugars, and precursors for formation of antioxidants. Assessing the avocado carbohydrates over the plant growth and development during ontogeny may, therefore, offer clues to better understand whole plant behaviour. Plant sampling was carried out over different developmental stages. Using plants grown in the light versus etiolated seedlings; sugar determinations were also done to determine what sugar is produced from which storage organs. The sugars were extracted and analysed by isocratic HPLC/RID. The embryo had 47.11 % hexose and 52.96 % heptose sugars. The seed, however, also released significant amounts of D-mannoheptulose (7.09 ± 1.44 mg g-1 d. wt) and perseitol (5.36 ± 0.61 mg g-1 d. wt). Similarly fruit and leaf tissues had significant amounts of heptoses relative to hexoses at specific phenological stages. In postharvest ‘readyto-eat’ fruit the following carbohydrate concentrations were as follows:exocarp heptoses 13 ± 0.8; hexoses 4.37 ± 1.6 mg g-1 d. wt, mesocarp heptoses 8 ± 0.2; hexoses 3.55 ± 0.12 mg g-1 d. wt), seed heptoses (only perseitol) 13 ± 1.1; hexoses 5.79 ± 0.53 mg g-1 d. wt. The results of this experiment was the first to demonstrate that the heptoses D-mannoheptulose, and its polyol form, perseitol, are found in all tissues/organs at various phenological stages of avocado growth and development. Secondly, heptoses, as well as starch are carbohydrate reserves that are found in avocado. The heptoses, beyond being abundantly produced in the avocado plant, are also found in phloem and xylem saps as mobile sugars. The study also presents data on the interconversion of the C7 sugars Dmannoheptulose and perseitol. It is deduced that D-mannoheptulose can be reduced to perseitol, and perseitol can also be oxidized to D-mannoheptulose by enzymes present in a protein extract of the mesocarp. The potential catalyzing enzyme is proposed to be an aldolase, as electrophoretic determinations prove the presence of such an enzyme during various stages of development in various plant organs. Avocado heptoses play an important role in plant growth and development and in fruit in particular. Moreover, they are reported as sources of anti-oxidants, and contribute significantly to fruit physiology if they function in coordination with other anti-oxidants in fruit tissues. To evaluate the presence of anti-oxidant systems throughout avocado fruit development, various tissues were analysed for their total and specific anti-oxidant compositions. Total anti-oxidant levels were found to be higher in the exocarp and in seed tissue than in the mesocarp. While seed tissues contained predominantly ascorbic acid (AsA) and total phenolics (TP), the anti-oxidant composition of the mesocarp was characterised by the C7 sugar, D-mannoheptulose. Among the anti-oxidant enzymes assayed, peroxidase (POX) and catalase (CAT) were present in higher concentrations than superoxide dismutase (SOD) in mesocarp tissue. Different anti-oxidant systems seem to be dominant within the various fruit tissues. Carbohydrates are the universal source of carbon for cell metabolism and provide the precursors for the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, for example via the shikimic acid pathway for phenols. The preharvest free and membrane-bound phenols, catechin and epicatechin, are distributed differently in the various fruit tissues. Membrane-bound and free phenols also play a role as anti-oxidants, with free ones being more important. KSil (potassium silicate) application to fruit as postharvest treatment was used to facilitate the release of conjugates to free phenols via lysis. This treatment improved fruit shelf life. Western blotting also revealed that postharvest Si treatment affects the expression of enzymatic anti-oxidant-catalase (CAT). Overall the thesis results revealed that C7 sugars have anti-oxidant properties and that D-mannoheptulose is the important anti-oxidant in the edible portion of the avocado fruit. Dmannoheptulose is furthermore of paramount importance as a transport sugar. Perseitol on the other hand acts as the storage product of D-mannoheptulose, which can be easily converted into D-mannoheptulose. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2009.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:35:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2008-04-17Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T21:07:47Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 montes_smnm_dr_ilha.pdf: 3140045 bytes, checksum: 51889bc5ab96aaa6ee380935d27efcc0 (MD5) / O presente trabalho foi conduzido no município de Presidente Prudente, SP, no Pólo Alta Sorocabana-APTA, de 2004 a 2006, em pomar experimental com seis cultivares de pessegueiros: Talismã, Aurora-2, Tropical, Dourado-2, Doçura-2 e Aurora-1, sobre os portaenxertos Okinawa e Umê. Teve como objetivos avaliar a fenologia, caracterizar fisica e quimicamente os frutos e avaliar os aspectos fitossanitários dos pessegueiros no tocante às moscas-das-frutas, ácaros e mariposa oriental, de maneira a obter subsídios que possam auxiliar o desenvolvimento da fruticultura regional. O delineamento experimental adotado foi blocos casualizados, com cinco repetições, sendo cada parcela representada por uma planta. Determinou-se a duração dos estádios fenológicos através de avaliações semanais, ocasião em que também observou-se a ocorrência de aborto de frutos e estabeleceram-se as curvas de crescimento. As características fisicas dos frutos, massa, comprimento e diâmetro sutural, produção por planta e por área, bem como Sólidos solúveis e Acidez titulável, foram determinadas por ocasião da colheita. Foi também realizado levantamento da população de ácaros fitófagos e predadores e moscas-das-frutas através de coletas semanais e infestação em frutos maduros. A infestação de mariposa oriental foi avaliada por levantamentos em quatro épocas, de 2004 a 2006. Os resultados obtidos permitiram concluir que: O florescimento das cultivares de pessegueiros enxertadas sobre os dois porta-enxertos estudados ocorreu no intervalo de 5-8 dias após a quebra da dormência, exceto 'Talismã' aos 12 dias, em 2004 e 2006. O ciclo das cultivares enxertadas sobre 'Okinawa' em 2004 e 2006 e sobre Umê em 2006 foi de 110 dias para 'Tropical', 138 para 'Aurora-2', 'Dourado-2' e 'Doçura-2' e 146 para... / The present work was lead in the President Prudente city, São Paulo, Brazil, from 2004 to 2006 with the objective of evaluating the phenology and characterizing the chemical and physical properties of fruits on the following peach cultivars: Talismã, Aurora-2, Tropical, Dourado-2, Doçura-2 and Aurora-1, on two rootstocks (Okinawa and Umê). In order to provide useful information for the regional fruit crop development, phytosanitary aspects of peach trees related to fruit flies, mites and oriental fruit moth were also evaluated. Treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design with five replicates. The phenological stage was determined weekly, along with the evaluation of the occurrence of fruit abortion. The physical characteristics of fruits, mass, length and suture diameter of fruits, production per plant and per area, as well as soluble solids and titratable acidity, were determined on the occasion of harvest. The population of phytophagous and predaceous mites and fruit flies were evaluated weekly. Oriental fruit moth infestations were estimated in four periods from 2004 to 2006. The results indicated that the full blossom of peach cultivars on both rootstocks occurred in 5-8 interval after the dormancy breaking; and the fructification period varied according to the cultivar. The period from blossom to harvest for the cultivars on 'Okinawa' in 2004 and 2006, and on Umê in 2006 was 110 days 'Tropical', 138 for 'Aurora-2', ' Dourado-2 ' and ' Doçura-2 ' and 146 for ' Talismã '. High percentage of abortion was observed during the stage I of fruit development. The growth curves of fruits were in a double sigmoid pattern for all cultivars. Talismã and Dourado-2 cultivars produced fruits with the biggest values of mass, length and sutural diameter, on ' Okinawa ' and Umê. The highest yields per area were obtained for ' Talismã '...(Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T14:22:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese_Juliana_Bertolino_da_Silva.pdf: 1325915 bytes, checksum: 5a59f93f8251d05ad711ff077e0b637a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-09-30 / A major limitation to the expansion of the pear culture cultivated under mild winter, as South of Brazil, is the cultivar adaptation. During the winter, the temperature fluctuation and low accumulation of cold have been reported by some authors as cause of floral button abortion. Moreover, the pear fruit satisfactorily when well managed, being the pruning and girdling one of the main fruiting techniques. This work aimed to evaluate the responses by pear cultivars to different cultural practices in order to increase the fruit an production and to evaluate the development of xylem vessels during dormancy. The work was carried out in two stages: the first in Brazil at the Federal University of Pelotas and the second in Italy, Faculty of Agriculture, in Pisa. In Garber cultivar, the treatments were: 1- control 2- short summer pruning 3- arching of branches and long summer pruning and 4 arching of branches in the winter, 5 - winter pruning; 6 girdling of branches, 7 Promalin ® and 8 - Biozyme * TF. For the cultivars Shinseiki and Housui, the treatments were: 1 - control, 2 - trunk girdling in April 3 - ringing branches in April. To Kousui, the treatments were: 1 trunk girdling, 2 - branch girdling + pruning 3- pruning, 4- branch girdling 5-control. For the Conference, the healthy and intact branches of plants were marked and followed during the dormancy period, the continuity of vascular bundles between the branches and the buds were observed in the stereomicroscope and the histological evaluations were observed under a fluorescence microscope. All cultivars responded to the blinding technique. For the Garber the effective fruit is influenced by the treatments when assessed in different fruiting bodies. The fruiting body which showed the highest rates of fruit were brindila coronada and bourse. For the Shinseiki cv, the trunk girdling increased the effective fruiting and the production per trunk area. In the cultivar Housui, the branches girdling increased the fruiting but not the production. In the cultivar Kousui the treatments with blinding increased the effective fruiting, the maturation was anticipated and increased the soluble solid content. In the cultivar Conference, through the vascular connections, it can establish stages of dormancy during the bud flowers evolution, as well as to establish that 1,000 chilling hours are needed to overcome endodormancy. / Os problemas de adaptação da pereira, no sul do Brasil, relacionam-se ao abortamento floral e a frutificação. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a resposta de algumas cultivares a diferentes tratos culturais e a evolução dos vasos do xilema a fim de aumentar a frutificação. A tese apresenta quatro capítulos, sendo que os três primeiros foram desenvolvidos no Brasil, no período de 2006 a 2008, na Universidade Federal de Pelotas, nas cultivares Garber, Shinseiki, Housui e Kousui. O quarto capítulo foi desenvolvido na Itália, na Faculdade de Agrárias, em Pisa, no período de 2008 a 2009. O primeiro capítulo constou na realização de pesquisa com a cv. Garber para avaliar a fixação de frutas em diferentes órgãos de frutificação em função dos quadrantes, onde foram realizados tratamento de poda, anelamento, arqueamento e uso de fitorreguladores. O segundo capitulo consta na avaliação do anelamento de tronco e ramos na frutificação efetiva, no crescimento e produção de frutas, nas cv. Shinseiki e Housui. O terceiro capitulo visou avaliar o efeito do anelamento e poda na frutificação efetiva, no crescimento e produção de pêra na cv. Kousui. O quarto capitulo constou da avaliação da conexão vascular do xilema, durante a fase de repouso, em condições naturais, na cv. Conference. Os principais resultados foram: todas as cultivares responderam à técnica do anelamento. Para a cv. Garber a frutificação efetiva foi influenciada pelos tratamentos quando avaliada nos diferentes órgãos de frutificação. O órgão de frutificação que apresentou maiores índices de frutificação efetiva foram brindila coronada e bolsa. Na cultivar Shinseiki o anelamento de tronco e de ramo, realizados no outono, aumentaram a frutificação efetiva e a produção por área de tronco, mas não a produção. Na cultivar Housui, o anelamento de ramos aumenta a frutificação efetiva, mas não a produção. Na cultivar Kousui os tratamentos realizados com anelamento aumentaram a frutificação efetiva, anteciparam a maturação das frutas e o teor de sólidos solúveis totais. Na cultivar Conference, através das conexões vasculares, pode-se estabelecer as fases da dormência durante a evolução das gemas florais, assim como estabelecer que cerca de 1000 horas de frio são necessárias para a superação da endodormência.

Submitted by Michele Mologni (mologni@unoeste.br) on 2017-06-23T19:31:58Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Luciana Machado Guaberto.pdf: 1335752 bytes, checksum: aa6bb850bf2257d472ca5dbfd2512a5a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-23T19:31:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Luciana Machado Guaberto.pdf: 1335752 bytes, checksum: aa6bb850bf2257d472ca5dbfd2512a5a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-12-16 / The DOF family proteins (DNA binding with One Finger) comprises unique plant transcription factors (FTs) characterized by the presence of a DNA binding domain Dof containing a similar structure to the "zinc-finger" domain. These transcription factors are involved in different roles in various biological processes in plants. Although the analysis and genomic characterization of this gene family was performed in many plant species, information on Dof genes in sweet orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) and their involvement in the development of the fruits is still limited. For the full identification of CsDof genes in C. sinensis, including the structures of genes, chromosomal locations, introns and phylogeny, the examination of three databases resulted in the identification of 24 genes of this FT family distributed on 7 out of 9 chromosomes of this species. Phylogenetic analysis and classification of Dof transcription factors in C. sinensis was compared with their orthologs of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana L.) and rice (Oryza sativa L.), which allowed their classification in four major groups (A, B, C and D) and 9 subgroups (a, B1, B2, C1, C2.1, C2.2, C3, D1, D2) of DOF proteins. For gene expression analysis, the 12 Dof genes with higher abundance of transcripts in fruits based on public RNA-seq data were selected for further analysis by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. This analysis revealed the CsDof genes were differentially expressed at different stages of development (up to 90 days after anthesis). It was also possible to establish three groups regarding their transcriptional activity relative to that in leaf tissue: genes with high (up to 8X), intermediate (up to 3X) and low relative expression (below 3 X). The gene CsDof1 showed higher expression in all of the fruit development stages, indicating that this isoform plays an important role in regulating the development of the fruits of C. sinensis. Taken together, our results provide new information about the regulation of Dof genes in controlling the formation of fruits of this important fruit species. / A família de proteínas Dof (DNA binding with One Finger) compreende fatores de transcrição (FT) exclusivos de plantas, caracterizados pela presença do domínio Dof de ligação ao DNA Estes fatores de transcrição estão envolvidos em diversos processos biológicos em plantas. Embora a análise e caracterização genômica de genes desta família tenha sido realizada em muitas espécies, informações sobre genes Dof em Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck (laranja doce) e o seu envolvimento no desenvolvimento do fruto é limitado. Para a identificação completa dos genes CsDof em C. sinensis, incluindo as estruturas dos genes (Exons - Íntrons), localizações cromossômicas e filogenia, três bancos de dados foram analisados. Como resultado desta busca 24 genes desta família de FTs distribuídos em 7 dos 9 cromossomos desta espécie. A análise filogenética e classificação dos fatores de transcrição Dof em C. sinensis foi realizada com a inclusão dos seus ortólogos de Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana L.) e arroz (Oryza sativa L.), sendo possível estabelecer quatro grupos principais (A, B, C e D) e 9 subgrupos (A, B1, B2, C1, C2.1, C2.2, C3, D1 e D2) de proteínas Dof. Foram selecionados 12 genes putativamente mais expressos em frutos de acordo com dados públicos de RNA-seq para a análise da expressão gênica por RT-PCR. Estes genes foram diferencialmente expressos durante as fases iniciais do desenvolvimento do fruto, sendo possível estabelecer três grupos: genes com alta expressão (acima de 8 X), expressão intermediária (acima de 3 X) e baixa expressão relativa (abaixo de 3 X) em relação à atividade transcricional em folhas. O gene CsDof1 se destacou como o gene com a maior expressão, sendo que esta manteve-se elevada em todos os estádios de desenvolvimento do fruto, evidenciando que esta isoforma desempenha um importante papel na regulação do desenvolvimento de frutos de C. sinensis. Considerados em conjunto, os nossos resultados fornecem novas informações sobre os genes CsDof na complexa rede regulatória envolvida no desenvolvimento dos frutos de laranja doce.

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