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Eugenol is an important phenylpropanoid in strawberry and the accumulation is affected by various abiotic stresses. In this study, the expression patterns of two transcription factors (TFs) (FaMYB10 and FaEOBII) and two synthetic genes (FaEGS1 and FaEGS2) involved in eugenol synthesis were characterized in Fragaria × ananassa cv. ‘Xiaobai’. Sequence analysis showed the four genes contained several cis-acting elements that were related to phytohormones and environmental stress signal responsiveness. FaEGS1 and FaEGS2 were clustered in the same group clade. The four genes were expressed in all analysed tissues and, in particular, expressed to higher relative expression levels in leaves. The expression of FaEGS1, FaEGS2, and FaEOBII was the highest in large green fruits, and FaMYB10 had the highest expression in red-ripening fruits. The amount of eugenol showed a stage-specific profile. The expression of these four genes was up-regulated by ethephon (ETH), dark, drought, heat, and salt treatments accompanied by the increase of eugenol production. Concentration and timing of cadmium treatment affected gene expression. Cadmium inhibited the expression of FaEGS1 and FaEOBII, but significantly promoted the expression of FaEGS2 and FaMYB10 and eugenol content. The results provide a basis for elucidating the role of these genes in response to abiotic stresses, and regulating the accumulation of eugenol, an important constituent of volatile compounds in many economically important and aromatic plants.

The biosynthetic pathway of volatile phenylpropanoids, including 4-allyl-2-methoxyphenol (eugenol), has been investigated in petunia (Petunia hybrida). However, the regulatory network for eugenol accumulation in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) fruit remains unclear. Here, an R2R3-type MYB transcription factor (TF; FaMYB63) was isolated from strawberry by yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) screening using the promoter of the FaEGS1 (eugenol synthase 1 [EGS 1]) gene, which encodes the enzyme responsible for the last step in eugenol biosynthesis. FaMYB63 is phylogenetically distinct from other R2R3-MYB TFs, including FaEOBІІ (EMISSION OF BENZENOID II [EOBII]), which also participates in regulating eugenol biosynthesis in strawberry receptacles. Reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) assays showed that the expression of FaMYB63 was tissue-specific and consistent with eugenol content through strawberry fruit development, was repressed by abscisic acid, and was activated by auxins (indole-3-acetic acid). Overexpression and RNA interference-mediated silencing of FaMYB63 resulted in marked changes in the transcript levels of the biosynthetic genes FaEGS1, FaEGS2, and FaCAD1 (cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase 1 [CAD1]) and, thereby, the accumulation of eugenol. Electrophoretic mobility shift, Y1H, GUS activity, and dual-luciferase activity assays demonstrated that the transcript levels of FaEOBІІ and FaMYB10 were regulated by FaMYB63, but not the other way around. Together, these results demonstrate that FaMYB63 directly activates FaEGS1, FaEGS2, FaCAD1, FaEOBІІ, and FaMYB10 to induce eugenol biosynthesis during strawberry fruit development. These findings deepen the understanding of the regulatory network that influences eugenol metabolism in an edible fruit crop.

Bosc is a winter cultivar of european pear (Pyrus communis) that has a relatively short storage life partially due to a high ethylene production rate (EPR) during cold storage. ‘Bosc’ pears were harvested at commercial maturity and treated with gas 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) at 0, 0.15, and 0.3 µL·L−1 and stored at −1.1 °C for 8 months. Results indicated that all 1-MCP treatments inhibited EPR and respiration rate (RR), retarded the degradation of chlorophyll and titratable acidity (TA), and extended storage quality; but inhibited ripening capacity. 1-MCP at 0.15 and 0.3 µL·L−1 had the same efficacy on keeping fruit quality although its higher rate was more efficient on inhibiting EPR and RR. The expression of ethylene synthesis genes (PcACS1, PcACS2, PcACS4, PcACS5, and PcACO1) and receptor genes (PcETR1, PcETR2, and PcERS1) was upregulated in control fruit during storage and they were downregulated significantly by 1-MCP treatments. In contrast, the ethylene receptor genes of PcETR5 and PcCTR1 were downregulated in control fruit during storage and were unaffected by 1-MCP treatments. Although the transcription levels of chlorophyll degradation genes PcPPH, PcNOL, PcSGR, PcRCCR, PcNYC, and PcPAO were all upregulated in control fruit during storage and downregulated by 1-MCP; only PcCHL was downregulated in the control and 1-MCP had no consistent effect on it. The relationship of ethylene biosynthesis/perception with chlorophyll degradation and storage quality in european pears was discussed.

‘Starkrimson’ is a highly profitable red-skinned european pear (Pyrus communis) cultivar that has a short storage life due mainly to the development of a mealy texture upon ripening and an internal browning (IB) disorder during or after storage. In 2013, ‘Starkrimson’ pears were sprayed with aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) at 0, 30, 60, and 120 mg·L−1 1 week before harvest or treated with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) at 0.3 µL·L−1 for 24 hours shortly after harvest, then stored at −1.1 °C and evaluated over a 16-week period. The experiment was repeated in 2014. After 2 weeks of storage, control fruit (nontreated) had a higher respiration rate and ethylene biosynthesis than AVG or 1-MCP-treated fruit. Following 12 weeks of storage, control fruit exhibited a greater incidence of mealy texture and greater extractable juice (EJ) after ripening, and by 16 weeks significantly higher IB relative to AVG and 1-MCP-treated fruit. AVG at 30 mg·L−1 had little effect on any of the storage responses measured compared with control. AVG at 60 mg·L−1 reduced ethylene synthesis, respiration rate, and titratable acidity (TA) loss and maintained high eating quality with low EJ. Fruit treated with 60 mg·L−1 AVG also developed markedly less IB following 16 weeks of storage than control or 30 mg·L−1 AVG treatments. AVG at 120 mg·L−1 did not improve storage quality achieved with 60 mg·L−1 but delayed ripening capacity by 1 month. 1-MCP markedly inhibited ethylene synthesis and respiration rate and eliminated IB during 16 weeks of storage; however, 1-MCP-treated fruit required 14 days at 20 °C to ripen to high eating quality following 12 to 16 weeks of storage compared with 5 days for 60 mg−L−1 AVG. Both AVG and 1-MCP suppressed the expressions of ethylene synthesis (PcACS1, PcACS4, PcACS5, and PcACO1) and perception genes (PcETR1, PcETR2, and PcETR5) although 1-MCP was more efficient than AVG. In conclusion, preharvest AVG applications at 60 mg·L−1 or postharvest 1-MCP treatment at 0.3 µL·L−1 extended storage life of ‘Starkrimson’; however, 1-MCP inhibited ripening capacity whereas 60 mg·L−1 AVG did not.

Soil pH is an important factor affecting the availability of soil nutrients that impact plant growth. Given the susceptibility of soil pH to excessive fertilization and the widespread use of manures, it is essential to examine the influence of soil pH on the distribution and availability of soil nutrients. We sampled and analyzed brown soils from pear orchards in thirteen towns in Wendeng county. Samples were obtained from areas along or between rows of trees at specified distances and depths. The results showed that the soil pH fluctuated from 4.06 to 6.59 in October 2008 and from 4.24 to 7.57 in April 2009. The quantity of soil samples with pH below 5.50 increased by 34.6%. Analysis of the soil pH for samples obtained along the rows of trees showed that the pH decreased as the depth increased (except for the range 5.5 to 6.0); soil pH in the samples obtained between the rows of trees demonstrated different trends. The average organic matter (O.M.) content as well as the N ( NH 4 + ) and available P, K, Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mn contents in the samples collected in October 2008 were higher than those observed in April 2009. Conversely, the values for other available nutrients were lower than those in the samples collected in April 2009. The available nutrients and organic matter (O.M.) content in different pH ranges varied. The soil pH was significantly or very significantly correlated with N ( NH 4 + and NO 3 - ), available K, Cu, Fe, and exchangeable Ca for the October 2008 samples, while a significant or very significant correlation existed between N ( NH 4 + ), available P, Zn, exchangeable Ca, and exchangeable Mg for the April 2009 samples. The correlations between soil pH and the amounts of available nutrients and organic matter (O.M.) along the rows of trees in September 2009 were nearly consistent with those between the rows.

The technique, Perturbation Facilitated Optical-Optical Double Resonance, has provided spectroscopic access to and molecular constants for the 3 3 Σ g + ( v = 1–9), 2 3 Π g ( v = 0–24), 1 3 Δ g ( v = 3–14), b 3 Π u ( v = 0–17), and a 3 Σ u + ( v = 0–6) states of the 6 Li 2 molecule. Perturbation Facilitated Optical-Optical Double Resonance takes advantage of two weak spin-orbit perturbations, A 1 Σ u + ( v = 2, J = 33) ∼ b 3 Π u ( v = 9, F 1 , N = 32) and A 1 Σ u + ( v = 9, J = 20) ∼ b 3 Π u ( v = 15, F 1 , N = 19), to excite from X 1 Σ g + ( v = 0 or 1) into single rotation-vibration levels of 3 Λ u ( F 1 fine structure component only) via the spin-mixed intermediate levels. The 3 Λ u ( F 1 only) states are sampled in resolved fluorescence spectra from Perturbation Facilitated Optical-Optical Double Resonance-populated 3 Λ g levels.