Reversible inhibition of tomato fruit senescence by antisense RNA.
Ethylene controls fruit ripening. Expression of antisense RNA to the rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway of ethylene, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase, inhibits fruit ripening in tomato plants. Administration of exogenous ethylene or propylene reverses the inhibitory effect. This result demonstrates that ethylene is the trigger and not the by-product of ripening and raises the prospect that the life-span of plant tissues can be extended, thereby preventing spoilage.
Plant Gene Expression Center, University of California at Berkeley-United States Department of Agriculture, Albany 94710.
P W
PW
Oeller
M W
MW
Lu
L P
LP
Taylor
D A
DA
Pike
A
A
Theologis
D005030:Ethylenes / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008190:Lyases / Q000235:genetics*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D063245:Plant Development; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D016372:RNA, Antisense
D005030:Ethylenes; D016372:RNA, Antisense; C036216:ethylene; D008190:Lyases; C021773:1-aminocyclopropanecarboxylate synthase