scholarly journals The Physiology of Growth in Apple Fruits I. Cell Size, Cell Number, and Fruit Development

1951 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joan M Bain ◽  
RN Robertson

The problem of fruit size in the Australian apple variety Granny Smith was examined in relation to mean cell size and mean cell number. Cell size gradients in the fruit and changes in cell shape and packing during development were noted.

1951 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 92 ◽  
Author(s):  
RN Robertson ◽  
JF Turner

The relationship of respiratory activity and quantities of the chemical constituents to fruit size, cell size, and cell number in apple fruits of the variety Granny Smith were examined.


2010 ◽  
Vol 58 (8) ◽  
pp. 673 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yun-He Li ◽  
Zhi Zhang ◽  
Guang-Ming Sun

In mainland China, more than 80% of pineapples (Ananas comosus L.) grown are the cultivar ‘Comte de Paris’. Fruit size is an important commercial trait in crops such as pineapple and it is generally believed that cell number and cell size play an important role during fruit size regulation; however, few cellular biological studies on pineapple fruit development have been conducted. To better understand the regulation of pineapple fruit size, the changes in cell number and cell size during fruit development were analysed. Pineapple cv. ‘Comte de Paris’ fruit were collected every 15 days from 0 to 75 days after the first flower appeared (DAFF), and the flesh of the second (top) and the sixth (base) fruitlets were selected for histological observation. Cell size exhibited a rapid increase up to 60 DAFF, while the cell rapidly proliferated up to 30 DAFF, then slowed down but continued to proliferate. Although grown under identical conditions, ‘Comte de Paris’ pineapples grew to different sizes. The results showed that the cell number, the cell size and the number of fruitlets were correlated with the final fruit size/weight regulation, but that cell number played the most important role.


2004 ◽  
Vol 129 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yahya K. Al-Hinai ◽  
Teryl R. Roper

The effects of rootstock on growth of fruit cell number and size of `Gala' apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh) were investigated over three consecutive seasons (2000-02) growing on Malling 26 (M.26), Ottawa-3, Pajam-1, and Vineland (V)-605 rootstocks at the Peninsular Agricultural Research Station near Sturgeon Bay, WI. Fruit growth as a function of cell division and expansion was monitored from full bloom until harvest using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Cell count and cell size measurements showed that rootstock had no affect on fruit growth and final size even when crop load effects were removed. Cell division ceased about 5 to 6 weeks after full bloom (WAFB) followed by cell expansion. Fruit size was positively correlated (r2 = 0.85) with cell size, suggesting that differences in fruit size were primarily a result of changes in cell size rather than cell number or intercellular space (IS).


HortScience ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 539g-539
Author(s):  
Raouel Cano-Medrano ◽  
Rebecca L. Darnell

Exogenous applications of GA, have induced pathenocarpic fruit set in blueberry; however, size of GA,-treated fruit is smaller than pollinated fruit. The small fruit size in GA3-treated fruit may be related to either cell number and/or cell size. Thus, these parameters were examined throughout development in pollinated, non-pollinated and GA3-treated fruits. Fruit growth followed a double sigmoid pattern. During Stage I (0-25 DAA), fruit size in GA,-treated, pollinated, and non-pollinated fruits averaged 0.33, 0.39, and 0.16 g, respectively. There was little change in fruit size in Stage II (25-45 DAA). At ripening, fruit size averaged 1.7 g for GA,-treated and 2.6 g for pollinated fruits. Non-pollinated fruit abscised in Stage II. At anthesis, mesocarp cell number averaged 9910 cells per median cross sectional area and remained constant up to ripening. In Stage I, cell size in G A3-treated and pollinated fruits increased 7X and 9X respectively. Cell size in both fruit types increased 1.5X and 2.8X during Stage II and Stage 111, respectively. Fruit cell number was set at anthesis and differences in fruit size were due to differences in cell ellongation in Stage I.


1953 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith A Pearson ◽  
RN Robertson

Results of investigation of cell size, fruit size, nitrogen metabolism, and respiration rate over three successive seasons confirm the main conclusions of earlier papers in this series. Fruit left on the trees for a period beyond normal commercial maturity showed a very -large increase in soluble nitrogen with only slight increase in protein nitrogen. The relation of the nitrogen and organic acid metabolism to the climacteric rise in respiration is discussed.


2011 ◽  
Vol 136 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Klima Johnson ◽  
Anish Malladi ◽  
D. Scott NeSmith

Fruit size is a valuable commercial trait in blueberry. The cellular basis of variation in fruit size among rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium ashei) genotypes was investigated. Twenty genotypes, including cultivars and advanced selections from the University of Georgia blueberry breeding program, were analyzed. Among the 20 genotypes, fruit weight and fruit diameter varied by over threefold and 1.6-fold, respectively. Regression analysis indicated a linear relationship between fruit weight and fruit diameter (R2 = 0.97, P < 0.001), suggesting that fruit diameter is a good predictor of fruit weight. Among the 20 genotypes, mesocarp cell number and cell area varied by almost 2.5-fold and 1.5-fold, respectively. Although fruit diameter and cell number were significantly related (R2 = 0.79, P < 0.001), no relationship could be established between fruit diameter and cell area. These data indicate that variation in fruit size among rabbiteye blueberry genotypes is primarily facilitated by variation in cell number. Two small and two large fruit size genotypes were further analyzed. Differences in cell number among some of these genotypes were apparent at bloom suggesting that cell production before bloom is an important mechanism contributing to variation in final cell number. Differences in final cell number among other genotypes were manifested during fruit development, indicating that cell production during fruit development was also instrumental in determining variation in final cell number. This study suggests that fruit size variation in rabbiteye blueberry genotypes is determined by mechanisms that regulate cell production before bloom and during fruit development.


HortScience ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 1097A-1097
Author(s):  
Anish Malladi ◽  
Peter Goldsbrough ◽  
Peter Hirst

Fruit development in apple cultivars varying in their ultimate fruit size was analyzed using cytology, flow cytometry (FCM), and semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Fruit size variation across cultivars was largely explained by variation in cell number. The cell division phase lasted for less than 30 days in all varieties, less than previously believed. A distinct overlap between the cell division and cell expansion phases was present. Analysis of the relative cell production rate (rCPR) showed a major peak about 10 days after full bloom (DAFB) after which it declined. Comparison of the rCPR across varieties suggested distinct patterns of cell production with `Gala' having a low but sustained rCPR, `Pixy Crunch' a short but high rCPR, and `Golden Delicious' having a high and sustained rCPR. FCM analysis also showed similar patterns with a peak in the proportion of dividing cells about 10 DAFB followed by a decline. To further understand regulation of cell number, four cell cycle related genes were cloned from `Gala'. Cyclin Dependent Kinase B (CDK B) and Cyclin B were found to be highly cell division phase specific in their expression. Analysis of gene expression by semi-quantitative RT-PCR indicated peak expression of these two genes at 5-10 DAFB, consistent with the peaks in rCPR and proportion of dividing cells. Comparison of gene expression across the varieties showed higher peak expression of the above genes in the larger-fruited `Golden Delicious' than in the smaller-fruited `Gala.' This study provides novel insight into the regulation of fruit development in apple and also suggests a role for the cell cycle genes in fruit size regulation.


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