Investigation of hormonal interactions at gene expression level in apple under cold storage

Previous studies have shed light on the potential oxin/ethylene interaction involved in fruit ripening, but a limited number of findings have been made. There are several studies examining certain gene expression changes with the application of the ethylene inhibitor 1-MCP (1-methylcyclopropene) in apples. However, there have been no studies examining auxin metabolism at the level of gene expression. With this study, it is aimed to examine the post-harvest ripening process and hormone interactions in the fruit comparatively at the molecular level through the examination of the transcriptome in the apple under storage and to elucidate it within the parameters examined. For this purpose, fruits and control group fruits treated with 1-MCP, auxin, ethylene and NPA (1-N-naphthythythalamic acid) were stored for 6 months after harvesting, and the expressions of ERF, Aux/IAA, NAC and EIN3 genes were examined on the 1st day, 3rd month and 6th month. As a result of expression analysis, it was seen that the application of auxin and oxin inhibitor NPA increased the expression of some ERF genes associated with ethylene. Ethylene administration increased the expression of the Aux/IAA gene on Day 1 and decreased it at Month 3 and Month 6. With the administration of the ethylene inhibitor 1-MCP, the expression of the Aux/IAA gene is reduced. However, the ERF4 gene did not show expression under the application of 1-MCP+NPA. The findings obtained in this study prove the existence of potential hormone interactions, which have been shed light on in previous studies.