Molecular Analysis of Postharvest Changes in Green Asparagus

The early physiological, biochemical, and molecular changes that follow harvesting of asparagus were investigated,with the aim of defining and regulating factors contributing to postharvest deterioration. The results showed that(i)induction of ethylene production in harvested asparagus tips is regulated by transcription of pAS-ACO and pAS-ACS in response to the wounding associated with harvest and, (ii)the increase in ammonia content and decrease in total GS activity in both top and bottom portions of the spears is a response to significant stress after harvest,(iii)the induction of PAL activity in harvested asparagus is regulated by transcription of pAS-PAL in response to the wounding,(iv)NBD enhanced the level of activity of ACC synthase in excised tip, (v)downstream products of PAL activity may be important for regulation of PAL gene expression. This work provides new insights into the molecular basis and regulation of postharvest deterioration of asparagus spears and will extend the shelf life of the spears by controlling the postharvest deterioration through regulation of the specific gene expression.

Autorentext

Pankaj Bhowmik is currently working as an NSERC visiting fellow in Canadian Government Laboratory. He holds a bachelor's degree in agriculture from Bangladesh Agricultural University and a doctorate in plant molecular biology from Ehime University in Japan. His main area of research is plant physiology and molecular biology.