Post-Harvest Application of Nanoparticles of Titanium Dioxide (NPs-TiO<sub>2</sub>) and Ethylene to Improve the Coloration of Detached Apple Fruit
Yongxu Wang,
Guolin Chen,
Daru Wang,
Jing Zhang,
Chunxiang You,
Xiaofei Wang,
Huaifeng Liu
Affiliations
Yongxu Wang
Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Key Laboratory of Special Fruits and Vegetables Cultivation Physiology and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
Guolin Chen
Apple Technology Innovation Center of Shandong Province, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production, National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Daru Wang
Apple Technology Innovation Center of Shandong Province, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production, National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Jing Zhang
Apple Technology Innovation Center of Shandong Province, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production, National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Chunxiang You
Apple Technology Innovation Center of Shandong Province, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production, National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Xiaofei Wang
Apple Technology Innovation Center of Shandong Province, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Fruit & Vegetable Quality and Efficient Production, National Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Huaifeng Liu
Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Key Laboratory of Special Fruits and Vegetables Cultivation Physiology and Germplasm Resources Utilization, Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
In this study, we analyzed the effects of treatments with titanium dioxide nanoparticles (NPs-TiO2) and ethylene on anthocyanin biosynthesis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism during light exposure in ripe ‘red delicious’ apples. Both treatments led to improved anthocyanins biosynthesis in detached mature apples, while the NPs-TiO2 had less impact on the fruit firmness, TSS, TA, and TSS/TA ratio. Furthermore, the effects of both treatments on the expression of anthocyanin-related enzymes and transcription factors in the apple peel were evaluated at the gene level. The differentially expressed genes induced by the two treatments were highly enriched in the photosynthesis and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways. The expression of structural genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis and ethylene biosynthesis was more significantly upregulated in the ethylene treatment group than in the NPs-TiO2 treatment group, and the opposite pattern was observed for the expression of genes encoding transcription factors involved in plant photomorphogenesis pathways. In addition, the ROS levels and antioxidant capacity were higher and the membrane lipid peroxidation level was lower in fruit in the NPs-TiO2 treatment group than in the ethylene treatment group. The results of this study reveal differences in the coloration mechanisms induced by NPs-TiO2 and ethylene in apples, providing new insights into improving the color and quality of fruits.
