title: Effect of 1-methylcyclopropene on the development of black mold disease and its potential effect on alternariol and alternariol monomethyl ether biosynthesis on tomatoes infected with Alternaria alternata.
abstract: Ethylene is a naturally produced plant regulator involved in several plant functions, such as regulation of fruit ripening. Inhibition of ethylene perception by using 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) slows down the ripening of the fruit maintaining its quality and freshness. The use of 1-MCP is a commercial strategy commonly used in the food industry to extend the postharvest life of several fruits, including tomatoes. To assess how 1-MCP affected infection by Alternaria alternata on tomatoes, three different cultivars were artificially inoculated with 5μL of an A. alternata conidial suspension (10(5)conidia/mL). Tomatoes were treated with 0.6μL/L of 1-MCP for 24h. Spiked but untreated tomatoes were considered controls. Then, fruit were stored 6days at 10°C and one more week at 20°C to simulate shelf-life. Fungal growth development and mycotoxin production (alternariol, AOH and alternariol monomethyl ether, AME) were assessed both on the first and on the second week. After the first 6days at 10°C, in just one variety the black mold disease was higher in the 1-MCP treated samples. However, after two weeks of storage, in all cases, tomatoes treated with 1-MCP showed more significant fungal growth disease. Regarding mycotoxin production, no large differences were observed among different treatments, which was corroborated with gene expression analysis of pksJ, a gene related to AOH and AME biosynthesis.
authors.affiliation: Applied Mycology Unit, Food Technology Department, University of Lleida, UTPV-XaRTA, Agrotecnio Center, Lleida, Spain. Electronic address: nestiarte@tecal.udl.cat.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Estiarte
authors.affiliation: Applied Mycology Unit, Food Technology Department, University of Lleida, UTPV-XaRTA, Agrotecnio Center, Lleida, Spain. Electronic address: acrespo@valgenetics.com.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Crespo-Sempere
authors.affiliation: Applied Mycology Unit, Food Technology Department, University of Lleida, UTPV-XaRTA, Agrotecnio Center, Lleida, Spain. Electronic address: smarin@tecal.udl.cat.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marín
authors.affiliation: Applied Mycology Unit, Food Technology Department, University of Lleida, UTPV-XaRTA, Agrotecnio Center, Lleida, Spain. Electronic address: vsanchis@tecal.udl.cat.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sanchis
authors.affiliation: Applied Mycology Unit, Food Technology Department, University of Lleida, UTPV-XaRTA, Agrotecnio Center, Lleida, Spain. Electronic address: ajramos@tecal.udl.cat.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Ramos
mesh_terms: D000528:Alternaria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D003521:Cyclopropanes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005519:Food Preservation; D006801:Humans; D007783:Lactones / Q000378:metabolism; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D003521:Cyclopropanes; D007783:Lactones; C412563:1-methylcyclopropene; C005197:alternariol; C018206:alternariol monomethyl ether
keywords: 1-Methylcyclopropene; AME; AOH; Alternaria; Tomatoes