An analysis of hormones and mineral nutrients in fruit from terminal and lateral racemes of two blueberry cultivars

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Shen, Min^{a; b; 1} | Chen, Qiang^{a; 1} | Zhang, Yan^a | Guo, Peipei^a | Zhu, Bo^a | He, Feng^a | Hu, Yong^c | Xiao, Jiaxin^{a; *}

Affiliations: [a] Key Laboratory for the Conservation and Utilization of Important Biological Resources, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui Province, China | [b] School of Marine and Biological Engineering, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, China | [c] Agricultural Products Processing Research Institute, Anhui Academy of Agricultural Science, Hefei, Anhui Province, China

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Jiaxin Xiao, Key Laboratory for the Conservation and Utilization of Important Biological Resources, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui Province, China. E-mail: xjx0930@163.com.

Note: [1] Min Shen and Qiang Chen contributed equally to this article.

Abstract: BACKGROUND:In general, fruit that develops from early-opening flowers ripens earlier than fruit from late-opening flowers. However, the opposite has been observed in the rabbiteye blueberry cultivar “Brightwell” (Vaccinium ashei). OBJECTIVE:From the differences of endogenous hormones and mineral nutrition, with attempt to analyze the reasons for fruit from late-opening flowers on lateral racemes of “Brightwell” ripened earlier than fruit from early-opening flowers on terminal racemes. RESULTS:Fruit from late-opening flowers on lateral racemes of “Brightwell” ripened earlier than fruit from early-opening flowers on terminal racemes. This may be associated with the higher levels of giberellin 1, abscisic acid (ABA), salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, phosphorus, iron and boron in the early developmental stages, and the higher ABA level and lower giberellin 9 level in the fruit ripening stages on lateral racemes, compared with on terminal racemes. However, the fruit borne on the terminal racemes of “O’Neal” grew faster than fruit borne on lateral racemes, this may be correlated with the higher IAA, iron, manganese, zinc and boron levels, and the lower ABA level, in the early fruit developmental stages on terminal racemes, compared with on lateral racemes. CONCLUSIONS:The growth and ripening differences in fruit set at the two positions of the two blueberry cultivars may be associated with hormonal and nutritional control during fruit development.

Keywords: Vaccinium ashei, fruit development, hormone, mineral nutrient

DOI: 10.3233/JBR-220073

Journal: Journal of Berry Research, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 67-80, 2023