ISHS Acta Horticulturae 772: XXVII International Horticultural Congress - IHC2006: International Symposium on Enhancing Economic and Environmental Sustainability of Fruit Production in a Global Economy
RE-EVALUATION OF SORBITOL METABOLISM IN FRUIT FROM ROSACEAE TREES |
| Authors: | W. Ohkawa, S. Moriya, K. Kanahama, Y. Kanayama |
| Keywords: | apples, pears, peach, sorbitol dehydrogenase |
| Abstract:
As fruit sink strength is a limiting factor in fruit production and increased sink strength may enhance photosynthesis, strengthening the fruit sink would be advantageous in terms of fruit production. Enzyme activities, such as those of sorbitol-metabolizing enzymes in Rosaceae fruit, are major factors in the fruit sink strength, and NAD-dependent sorbitol dehydrogenase (NAD-SDH) plays a key role in converting sorbitol into fructose and in the accumulation carbohydrates. However, it is not clear whether only NAD-SDH metabolizes sorbitol translocated from leaves to the fruit. Therefore, we carried out a tracer experiment using 14C-sorbitol. Disks prepared from apples, Japanese pears, and other pear fruit were incubated with 14C-sorbitol. The 14C-sorbitol was converted into 14C-glucose, while 14C-fructose and 14C-sucrose were not detected. These results suggest that in the fruit of Rosaceae trees, sorbitol is converted into glucose when it is taken up into fruit cells in an apoplastic manner. Considerable activities of NADP-dependent sorbitol dehydrogenase and sorbitol-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were detected in apples and peach fruit, although they were lower than those of NAD-SDH, suggesting that a pathway other than that of NAD-SDH may be present. | |
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