title: Physicochemical and biochemical characterization of transgenic papaya modified for protection against Papaya ringspot virus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Papaya, a nutritious tropical fruit, is consumed both in its fresh form and as a processed product worldwide. Major quality indices which include firmness, acidity, pH, colour and size, are cultivar dependent. Transgenic papayas engineered for resistance to Papaya ringspot virus were evaluated over the ripening period to address physicochemical quality attributes and food safety concerns.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With the exception of one transgenic line, no significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed in firmness, acidity and pH. Lightness (L*) and redness (a*) of the pulps of non-transgenic and transgenic papaya were similar but varied over the ripening period (P < 0.05). Fruit mass, though non-uniform (P < 0.05) for some lines, was within the range reported for similar papaya cultivars, as were shape indices of female fruits. Transgene proteins, CP and NPTII, were not detected in fruit pulp at the table-ready stage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that transformation did not produce any major unintended alterations in the physicochemical attributes of the transgenic papayas. Transgene proteins in the edible fruit pulp were low or undetectable.
authors: Department of Chemistry, University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica.
authors: Madeen
authors: M
authors: Roberts
authors: Donna A
authors: DA
authors: Minott
authors: Simone
authors: S
authors: Pinnock
authors: Paula F
authors: PF
authors: Tennant
authors: Jose C
authors: JC
authors: Jackson
mesh_terms: D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029441:Carica / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000821:virology; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000821:virology; D060467:Disease Resistance; D063427:Food Quality; D030841:Food, Genetically Modified / Q000821:virology; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000821:virology; D055951:Functional Food / Q000032:analysis* / Q000821:virology; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007563:Jamaica; D019868:Kanamycin Kinase / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D057230:Limit of Detection; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000821:virology; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000821:virology; D017800:Potyvirus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D036022:Capsid Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; C073700:coat protein, Papaya ringspot virus; D019868:Kanamycin Kinase; D005966:Glucuronidase
keywords: Jamaica; Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV); papaya; safety assessment; transgenic; ‘Sunrise solo’