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Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2023, Vol. 59 ›› Issue (2): 86-95.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.LYKX20220314

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Changes of Anatomic Structure and Cell Wall Metabolism of Torreya grandis cv. ‘Merrilii’ Aril during Cracking

Jiayi Shen,Cuiping Wu,Jia Yao,Jiasheng Wu,Rui Zhang,Yuanyuan Hu*   

  1. State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture Zhejiang A & F University Hangzhou 311300
  • Received:2022-05-09 Online:2023-02-25 Published:2023-04-27
  • Contact: Yuanyuan Hu

Abstract:

Objective: The aril cracking of Torreya grandis cv. ‘Merrilii’ (T. grandis) is an important process for obtaining its seeds. The cracking period of T. grandis aril is long, which leads to high harvesting cost. This study aims to study the changes of cell wall metabolism and structure of T. grandis aril during the different growth stages, and provide theoretical basis for further exploring the mechanism of aril cracking and exploring measures to promote aril cracking. Method: During the different development stages of seeds, the changes of the cracking rate and firmness of T. grandis aril were measured, and the changes in cell wall components and its related degradation enzyme activity were also analyzed. Combined with anatomic structure observation of aril at different growth stages, the role of cell wall metabolism and structural changes in the cracking process was investigated. The ethylene production rate of T. grandis seeds was measured during growth stages, and the role of ethylene in the cracking process of aril was explored by using the inhibitor of ethephon/ethylene (1-methylcyclopropylene, 1-MCP), and the relationship between ethylene and the cracking of the aril was analyzed. Result: 1) From 134?154 days after the seeds protrusion (DASP), the cracking rate of aril inT. grandis significantly increased by 10 times, the firmness significantly decreased by 61%, and thickness of aril increased by 43%. When arils were cracking (154 DASP), there were obvious separation layers between the resin canal near the inner epidermis and its nearby resin canal, as well as between the middle parenchyma cell layer and the inner epidermis. 2) From 134?154 DASP, the water-soluble pectin (WSP) in aril significantly increased, while the CDTA soluble pectin (SSP) and Na2CO3 soluble pectin (CSP) significantly decreased, and the activities of related degradation enzymes, such as pectin methyl esterase (PME) and polygalacturonase (PG) showed a significant increasing trend. In addition, PME and PG activities were negatively correlated with its firmness. 3) From 134?154 DASP, the ethylene production rate ofT. grandis seeds showed an increased at first and then decreased trend, and the spraying of ethephon solution was able to significantly increase the cracking rate of T. grandis aril, and decrease firmness. There was significantly positive correlation between ethylene production rate and cracking rate, or negative correlation between ethylene production rate and firmness. Conclusion: T. grandis aril starts to gradually go into cracking stage since 134 DASP, and the cracking of T. grandis aril is affected by the inner epidermis layer and the parenchyma cell layer. Besides, the cracking of aril is closely related to the metabolism of pectin and ethylene production.

Key words: Torreya grandis, cracking, the anatomic structure of aril, cell wall metabolism, ethylene

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