Efeito da radiação UV-C na expressão gênica e nas respostas bioquímico-fisiológicas em frutos de tomate (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.).

• Autor(a) principal: Tiecher, Aline
• Data de Publicação: 2010
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UFPel - Guaiaca
• Texto Completo: http://repositorio.ufpel.edu.br/handle/ri/1317
• topic: Ultravioleta; Amadurecimento; Etileno; 1-metilciclopropeno; Metabolismo secundário; Ultraviolet; Ripening; Ethylene; 1-methylcyclopropene; Secondary metabolism; CNPQ::CIENCIAS AGRARIAS::CIENCIA E TECNOLOGIA DE ALIMENTOS::TECNOLOGIA DE ALIMENTOS

UV-C radiation is utilized in postharvest of fruits with the objective of reducing inoculum and disease incidence. However, it is possible that it acts as an abiotic stressor agent, activating defense mechanisms of plant tissues, which is characterized by the induction of secondary metabolism, especially through the synthesis of phenolics compounds and carotenoids, involved in the protection of oxidative stress. In this context, molecular changes derived from the action of UV-C radiation were evaluated in tomato, during storage (20-23°C), and its relationship with biochemical and physiological responses and with events influenced by the plant hormone ethylene. For such, the following treatments were performed: UV-C at 3,7 kJ m-2; 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) at 2 ppm, and 1-MCP + UV-C. From these treatments it was observed that a reduction in fruit firmness occurred in untreated and UV-C treated fruit as maturation advanced, accompanied by the accumulation transcripts of a gene encoding the enzyme polygalacturonase (PG), indicating that UV-C treatment did not contribute for the maintenance of this quality attribute. On the other hand, 1-MCP participated in the maintenance of flesh firmness, even though PG transcript accumulation was found, suggesting this gene is not the primary responsible for this property. UV-C radiation induced an increase in ethylene content, but still, a delay in fruit color development occurred in fruit from this treatment. As expected, 1-MCP treated fruit showed a delayed peak of ethylene production, of the color development, and of decrease in flesh firmness. Lycopene content was lower in fruit subjected to 1-MCP treatment. However, in fruit treated with 1-MCP + UV-C, β-carotene content was significantly higher in the exocarp of the fruit, which conferred them an orange color. p-Hydroxybenzoic acid was the predominant phenolic compound found in exocarp and mesocarp, and quercetin was found in higher content in fruits subjected to 1-MCP + UV-C treatment. δ-tocopherol was the only tocopherol identified in tomato fruit, present in high levels in the exocarp of the fruit. Genes coding for enzymes responsible for synthesis of carotenoids, phytoene synthase (PHS) and δ-carotene desaturase (ZCD) for the synthesis of phenylpropanoids, phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and chalcone synthase (CHS), antioxidant enzymes, catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) showed initially high accumulation of transcripts in the exocarp and later in the mesocarp of fruit subjected to UV-C radiation. In general, UV-C radiation induced ethylene production, and yet slowed down maturation, particularly regarding color changes. Flesh firmness was not affected by UV-C treatment. Molecular responses to UV-C radiation application started in the exocarp and were in sequence found in the mesocarp.