Abscisic Acid Synthesis and Signaling during the Ripening of Raspberry (Rubus idaeus 'Heritage') Fruit.

The raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) fruit is characterized by its richness in functional molecules and high nutritional value, but the high rate of fruit softening limits its quality during postharvest. Raspberry drupelets have a particular ripening regulation, depending partially on the effect of ethylene produced from the receptacle. However, the possible role of abscisic acid (ABA) in the modulation of quality parameters during the ripening of raspberry is unclear. This study characterized the fruit quality-associated parameters and hormonal contents during fruit development in two seasons. The quality parameters showed typical changes during ripening: a drastic loss of firmness, increase in soluble solids content, loss of acidity, and turning to a red color from the large green stage to fully ripe fruit in both seasons. A significant increase in the ABA content was observed during the ripening of drupelets and receptacles, with the higher content in the receptacle of ripe and overripe stages compared to the large green stage. Moreover, identification of ABA biosynthesis-(9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase/NCED) and ABA receptor-related genes (PYRs-like receptors) showed three genes encoding RiNCEDs and nine genes for RiPYLs. The expression level of these genes increased from the large green stage to the full-ripe stage, specifically characterized by a higher expression of RiNCED1 in the receptacle tissue. This study reports a consistent concomitant increase in the ABA content and the expression of RiNCED1, RiPYL1, and RiPYL8 during the ripening of the raspberry fruit, thus supporting the role for ABA signaling in drupelets.

Differences in primary metabolism related to quality of raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) fruit under open field and protected soilless culture growing conditions.

Introduction: The raspberry (Rubus idaeus) fruit is characterized by good taste and high acceptability by consumers. Thus, the impact on the quality attributes and metabolites related to raspberry taste should be evaluated in crop alternatives such as the protected soilless culture. This study aimed to evaluate the metabolic changes during fruit development and postharvest of raspberry grown in open field and protected soilless culture and their relationship with quality parameters and sensory perception. Methods: In this study, the quality parameters and polar metabolites -sugar and amino acids- content were evaluated during raspberry ripening. In addition, ripe fruit was stored at 1 °C for five days, followed by one day of shelf life at 20 °C. Results: The physiological and quality parameters showed typical changes during ripening in both growing conditions: a constant production of CO2, a drastic loss of firmness, an increase in weight and soluble solids content, loss of acidity, and a turning to red color from the green to fully ripe fruit stages in both growing conditions. Fruit from the protected soilless culture had significantly higher weight but a lower soluble solids content. The metabolic analysis showed differences in primary metabolites content during ripening and storage at 1 °C between both growing conditions. The raspberries grown in the open field showed higher contents of sugars such as D-glucose and D-fructose. On the contrary, the fruit from the protected soilless culture showed higher contents of some amino acids such as L-alanine, L-serine and L-valine, among others. The sensorial panel showed significant differences in the perception of the sweetness, acidity, color and firmness of ripe fruit from both growing conditions. Discussion: The present study provides interesting and useful results with direct commercial application for this alternative growing system, mainly in areas where soil and water scarcity are a reality.

Characterization of Fruit Development, Antioxidant Capacity, and Potential Vasoprotective Action of Peumo (Cryptocarya alba), a Native Fruit of Chile.

The peumo (Cryptocarya alba) is a native fruit from central Chile that belongs to the Lauraceae family. To characterize the development and the potential health benefits of this edible fruit, quality and physiological parameters, along with antioxidant capacity, were evaluated during three clearly defined developmental stages of the fruit in two seasons. The most distinguishable attributes of ripe fruit were the change in size and color. Low CO2 production and no detectable ethylene levels suggested non-climacteric behavior of the peumo fruit. Peumo demonstrate a significant increase in their antioxidant capacity per 1 g of fresh weight (FW) of the sample, from small to ripe fruit. Higher values in ripe fruit (FRAP: 37.1-38.3 µmol FeSO4/gFW, TEAC: 7.9-8.1 mmol TE/gFW, DPPH: 8.4-8.7 IC50 µg/mL, and ORAC: = 0.19-0.20 mmol TE/gFW) were observed than those in blueberry fruit (FRAP: 4.95 µmol FeSO4/gFW, TEAC: 1.25 mmol TE/gFW, DPPH: 11.3 IC50 µg/mL, and ORAC: 0.032 mmol TE/ gFW). The methanol extracts of ripe fruit displayed the presence of polyphenol acids and quercetin, an ORAC value of 0.637 ± 0.061 mmol TE per g dried weight (DW), and a high cellular antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential, the latter exceeding the effect of quercetin and indomethacin used as standard molecules. Also, the assay of isolated rat aorta with endothelium-dependent relaxation damage demonstrated that the peumo extract induced vascular protection, depending on its concentration under a high glucose condition. These results demonstrate that these endemic fruits have a good chance as ingredients or foods with functional properties.

Dataset on quality and physiological changes of raspberry fruit during their development and under auxin in-vitro assay.

The data presented in this article are related to the research article entitled "Expression of two indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)-amido synthetase (GH3) genes during fruit development of raspberry (Rubus idaeus Heritage)" (Bernales et al., In press). This data article describes the relation of all size variables between them and with the weight showing an increasing trend between length and weight and an inverse relation of fruit firmness and ethylene production during development. In addition, IAA treatment during auxin in-vitro assay showed no significant changes in firmness, a significant increase of ethylene and respiratory production.

Characterization of fruit development and potential health benefits of arrayan (Luma apiculata), a native berry of South America.

The arrayan berry (Luma apiculata) is a native fruit from South America that belongs to the Myrtaceae family. To elucidate and characterize the developmental process and the potential health benefits of this edible fruit, quality and physiological parameters, along with antioxidant capacity, were evaluated during four clearly defined developmental stages of the fruit in two seasons. Fruit firmness slowly decreases during fruit development, whereas the solid soluble content/titratable acidity ratio (SSC/TA) increases significantly in the final stages of development. The measurement of low respiration rates and low ethylene production during growth and ripening suggested that the arrayan berry should be classified as a non-climacteric fruit. Arrayan berries show a significant increase in their antioxidant capacity from small green to black ripe fruit. FRAP and TEAC assays showed high correlations with total polyphenolic content (TPC) during ripening and high antioxidant capacity at all fruit stages, showing greater values in ripe fruit (FRAP: 24 ± 2 and 28 ± 3 µM FeSO4/gFW; TEAC: 18 ± 2 and 20 ± 1 Eq. Trolox/gFW for each season, respectively) than those observed in the blueberry (FRAP: 10 ± 2 and 19 ± 3 µM FeSO4/gFW; TEAC: 10 ± 2 and 17 ± 3). In addition, bioactive assays using ripe fruit extracts show presence of flavonol and anthocyanins, a high ORAC value (62,500 ± 7000 µmol/gDW) and a concentration-dependent vascular protection under high glucose conditions. The results obtained show that these endemic berry fruits have a promising potential as functional food.