Grapes on Steroids. Brassinosteroids Are Involved in Grape Berry Ripening

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dc.contributor.authorSymons, G.
dc.contributor.authorDavies, C.
dc.contributor.authorShavrukov, Y.
dc.contributor.authorDry, I.
dc.contributor.authorReid, J.
dc.contributor.authorThomas, M.
dc.contributor.organisationAustralian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics (ACPFG)
dc.date.issued2006
dc.description.abstractFruit ripening is a unique plant developmental process with direct implications for our food supply, nutrition, and health. In contrast to climacteric fruit, where ethylene is pivotal, the hormonal control of ripening in nonclimacteric fruit, such as grape (Vitis vinifera), is poorly understood. Brassinosteroids (BRs) are steroidal hormones, essential for normal plant growth and development but not previously implicated in the ripening of nonclimacteric fruit. Here we show that increases in endogenous BR levels, but not indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) or GA levels, are associated with ripening in grapes. Putative grape homologs of genes encoding BR biosynthesis enzymes (BRASSINOSTEROID-6-OXIDASE and DWARF1) and the BR receptor (BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE 1) were isolated, and the function of the grape BRASSINOSTEROID-6-OXIDASE gene was confirmed by transgenic complementation of the tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) extreme dwarf (dx/dx) mutant. Expression analysis of these genes during berry development revealed transcript accumulation patterns that were consistent with a dramatic increase in endogenous BR levels observed at the onset of fruit ripening. Furthermore, we show that application of BRs to grape berries significantly promoted ripening, while brassinazole, an inhibitor of BR biosynthesis, significantly delayed fruit ripening. These results provide evidence that changes in endogenous BR levels influence this key developmental process. This may provide a significant insight into the mechanism controlling ripening in grapes, which has direct implications for the logistics of grape production and down-stream processing.
dc.description.urihttp://stke.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/plantphysiol;140/1/150
dc.identifier.citationPlant Physiology, 2006; 140(1):150-158
dc.identifier.doi10.1104/pp.105.070706
dc.identifier.issn0032-0889
dc.identifier.issn1532-2548
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/41487
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherAmer Soc Plant Physiologists
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1104/pp.105.070706
dc.subjectPlants, Genetically Modified
dc.subjectVitis
dc.subjectGibberellins
dc.subjectIndoleacetic Acids
dc.subjectTriazoles
dc.subjectSteroids
dc.subjectPlant Growth Regulators
dc.subjectPlant Proteins
dc.subjectCloning, Molecular
dc.subjectPhylogeny
dc.subjectSignal Transduction
dc.subjectGene Expression Regulation, Plant
dc.subjectMolecular Sequence Data
dc.subjectSolanum lycopersicum
dc.titleGrapes on Steroids. Brassinosteroids Are Involved in Grape Berry Ripening
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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