Expression of ACC Oxidase Gene in Ethanol-Treated Banana Fruit

Abstract

Postharvest application of 35-90% ethanol is reported to remove astringency and improve sweetness of banana. In order to determine the specific pattern and localization of gene expression, banana fruits were treated with 60% ethanol and control and then the total RNA extracted from the banana was hybridized with the RNA probe of ACC oxidase gene. When the representation of MAACO1 mRNA (encoding banana ACC oxidase) was compared with peel and pulp signal in control and 60% ethanol-treated banana, the pulp showed clearly higher representation than the peel in 3 days after the treatment and that in 6 days in control. These results indicated that the induction of internal ethylene in ethanol treated-banana regulated primarily MA-ACO1 gene expression in pulp and then the expression regions transferred to the peel. The expression of MA-ACO1 gene coincided roughly with the increase in ethylene production and the amount of mRNA in total RNA was also confirmed to increase.