title: Malus domestica: fruit skin moisture exposed
design: Moisture exposure was conducted conducted on apple fruits 10-12 mm in diameter (21-32 DAFB).The tip of a 2.0 ml polyethylene tube (Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany) was mounted in the equatorial plain of the apple fruit using nontoxic silicone rubber (Silicone RTV; Dow Toray, Japan) and filled with 1 ml deionoized water. The fruit skin patches were exposed to moisture for 12 d (12 d wet + 0 d dry). Afterwards, moisture was removed and the fruit skin patches remained dry. The opposite site of the fruit served as control.