Behaviour of abscisic acid and polyamines in antisense ACC oxidase melon (Cucumis melo) during ripening

The behaviour of transgenic antisense 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase melon (TAM) was studied during fruit ripening. Work focussed mainly on analysis of the evolution of other plant growth regulators like ABA and polyamines in this type of melon. Physical-chemical and physiological differences from untransformed melon (UTM) (Cucumis melo L. var. cantalupensis Naud. cv. Védrantais) began to appear from the time of the latter's ethylene crisis. Ethylene synthesis was inhibited by 97.7% in TAM at the time when UTM showed maximum ethylene levels. The ripeness index of TAM was lower, despite their higher soluble solids content, due to the higher titratable acidity. Unlike UTM, TAM rind maintained its colour and cell membrane integrity, although there was no difference in the pulp in this respect. Blocking ethylene biosynthesis affected the levels of ABA and the polyamine putrescine, the latter only in the rind. The possible relationship between ethylene, ABA and polyamines, the effect of blocking ethylene biosynthesis on the evolution of these regulators, and their role in fruit ripening are discussed.