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Published on: November 6, 2021
Decoding altitude-activated regulatory mechanisms occurring during apple peel ripening
Evangelos Karagiannis1, Michail Michailidis1, Georgia Tanou2
1Laboratory of Pomology, Department of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
High altitude significantly enhances apple peel color and phenolic compounds, despite not altering overall fruit ripening. This study reveals key metabolic and protein changes in apple peel influenced by altitude.
Area of Science:
- Plant Physiology
- Metabolomics
- Proteomics
Background:
- Apple (Malus domestica) is a globally significant fruit crop.
- The molecular mechanisms of apple peel ripening under varying environmental conditions remain underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of low (20m) and high (750m) altitude on apple peel ripening.
- To analyze physiological, metabolomic, and proteomic changes in apple peel at different altitudes.
Main Methods:
- Physiological measurements of apple fruit development and ripening.
- Metabolomic and proteomic analyses of apple peel tissue.
- Construction of a metabolite-protein network.
Main Results:
- High altitude significantly increased redness and color index in apple peel.
- Elevated levels of anthocyanins and phenolic compounds (e.g., cyanidin-3-O-galactoside) were observed at high altitude.
- High altitude led to increased carbohydrates and decreased glutamic acid, affecting TCA cycle and protein synthesis.
Conclusions:
- Altitude influences apple peel coloration and secondary metabolite accumulation.
- Metabolite-protein interactions provide insights into altitude-mediated peel ripening.
- Environmental factors play a crucial role in modulating fruit peel physiology.
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