Gene Expression in Response to Ethylene and Wounding

这项研究的目的是确定调节鳄梨果实成熟的激素和发育相互作用的性质。一个假说已经被提出，认为成熟过程由与激素乙烯的作用有关的阶段组成。这包括：1)延迟期，在此期间，组织对乙烯的反应性增强，在此期间，抑制未分离果实成熟的假定“树因素”被消散；以及2)自动催化乙烯产生的时期，伴随着细胞壁降解等宏观变化。这项提案将侧重于定义产生树因子并导致成熟滞后的监管事件。将探索树木因子是生长素或类似化合物的可能性。这项研究可能会对激素和非激素信号在植物主要发育过程中的交互作用提供有用的见解。

The objective of this research is to define the nature of hormonal and developmental interactions that regulate ripening of avocado fruit. A hypothesis has been developed that considers the ripening process to consist of phases which are associated with action of the hormone ethylene. These involve: 1) a lag during which the responsiveness of the tissue to ethylene increases, and during which a putative "tree factor" that inhibits ripening of undetached fruit is dissipated; and 2) a period of autocatalytic ethylene production, accompanied by macroscopic changes such as cell wall degradation. This proposal will focus on definition of the regulatory events that produce the tree factor, and result in the ripening lag. The possibility will be explored that the tree factor is auxin or a similar compound. This research may provide useful insight into the interactive roles of hormonal and non.hormonal signals in a major plant developmental process.