Aroma development during ripening of Fragaria chiloensis fruit and participation of an alcohol acyltransferase (FcAAT1) gene.
Fragaria chiloensis is characterized for having great aroma and flavor properties. Using headspace-SPME different volatile compounds were identified and quantified during development and ripening of the fruit. The headspace was dominated by esters, butyl acetate, ethyl acetate, ethyl butanoate and ethyl hexanoate being the most abundant in fully ripe fruit. As esters are important for aroma and synthesized through alcohol acyltransferases (AAT), a full-length cDNA (FcAAT1) was isolated from F. chiloensis fruit which displayed the three motifs characteristic of most AATs. As the production of esters increased during ripening, a clear increment in FcAAT1 transcripts was observed in fruit tissue. A good correlation was found between AAT activity and the total content of esters, especially with acetates and hexanoates. Aroma-related esters displayed during ripening the same production profile as AAT activity. Therefore it can be suggested that the FcAAT1 gene may have a significant role in ester production of F. chiloensis fruit.
González
Miriam
M
Instituto de Biología Vegetal y Biotecnología, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile.
Gaete-Eastman
Carlos
C
Valdenegro
Mónika
M
Figueroa
Carlos R
CR
Fuentes
Lida
L
Herrera
Raúl
R
Moya-León
María Alejandra
MA
D000217:Acyltransferases / Q000235:genetics*; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004952:Esters / Q000378:metabolism; D031985:Fragaria / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development*; D015870:Gene Expression; D009812:Odorants / Q000032:analysis*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis
D018744:DNA, Plant; D004952:Esters; D010940:Plant Proteins; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D000217:Acyltransferases