論文ID: UTD-332
Pollination is an important factor affecting fruit development in highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.). In general, planting several different blueberry cultivars increases the chances of cross-pollination and ensures high-quality fruit production. However, little is known about the effects of the pollen source on fruit development in blueberry. The aims of this study were: 1) to understand the effects of the pollen source on fruit size and quality; and 2) to explore the mechanisms underlying fruit development affected by the pollen source. We first characterized the pollination effect on fruit development using 14 different pollination combinations for several years and found that the number of mature seeds and fruit size differed significantly among the fruit pollinated by different pollen sources. Significant correlations between the number of mature seeds and fruit size were found in most combinations, whereas the number of mature seeds was not correlated with other fruit quality parameters such as sugar concentration. Our results and those of previous reports showed that the number of mature seeds, which was influenced by the pollen source, was a primary determinant of fruit size. Time-course observation during fruit development revealed that fruit weight and cell size significantly differed between self-pollinated and cross-pollinated fruit from 30 days after pollination onwards. To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying berry growth affected by developing seeds, we compared gene expression changes between self-pollinated and cross-pollinated fruit. Transcriptome analysis of fruit at 10 days after pollination suggested that auxin signaling pathways were enhanced in cross-pollinated fruit compared with self-pollinated fruit. We thus hypothesize that activated auxin signal transduction underlying early stage seed and fruit development may promote fruit cell enlargement during the early stage of fruit growth in highbush blueberry.
