Fruit development of the diploid kiwifruit, Actinidia chinensis 'Hort16A'.
BACKGROUND
With the advent of high throughput genomic tools, it is now possible to undertake detailed molecular studies of individual species outside traditional model organisms. Combined with a good understanding of physiological processes, these tools allow researchers to explore natural diversity, giving a better understanding of biological mechanisms. Here a detailed study of fruit development from anthesis through to fruit senescence is presented for a non-model organism, kiwifruit, Actinidia chinensis ('Hort16A').


RESULTS
Consistent with previous studies, it was found that many aspects of fruit morphology, growth and development are similar to those of the model fruit tomato, except for a striking difference in fruit ripening progression. The early stages of fruit ripening occur as the fruit is still growing, and many ripening events are not associated with autocatalytic ethylene production (historically associated with respiratory climacteric). Autocatalytic ethylene is produced late in the ripening process as the fruit begins to senesce.


CONCLUSIONS
By aligning A. chinensis fruit development to a phenological scale, this study provides a reference framework for subsequent physiological and genomic studies, and will allow cross comparison across fruit species, leading to a greater understanding of the diversity of fruits found across the plant kingdom.
New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited (PFR), Kerikeri, New Zealand.
Annette C
AC
Richardson
Helen L
HL
Boldingh
Peter A
PA
McAtee
Kularajathevan
K
Gunaseelan
Zhiwei
Z
Luo
Ross G
RG
Atkinson
Karine M
KM
David
Jeremy N
JN
Burdon
Robert J
RJ
Schaffer
D000143:Acids / Q000032:analysis; D029042:Actinidia / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D005030:Ethylenes / Q000378:metabolism; D005638:Fruit / Q000502:physiology*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D059467:Transcriptome
D000143:Acids; D005030:Ethylenes; C036216:ethylene