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Pectin engineering to modify product quality in potato.

Pectin engineering to modify product quality in potato.

Authors :
Ross HA
Morris WL
Ducreux LJ
Hancock RD
Verrall SR
Morris JA
Tucker GA
Stewart D
Hedley PE
McDougall GJ
Taylor MA
Source :
Plant biotechnology journal [Plant Biotechnol J] 2011 Oct; Vol. 9 (8), pp. 848-56. Date of Electronic Publication: 2011 Feb 01.
Publication Year :
2011

Abstract

Although processed potato tuber texture is an important trait that influences consumer preference, a detailed understanding of tuber textural properties at the molecular level is lacking. Previous work has identified tuber pectin methyl esterase (PME) activity as a potential factor impacting on textural properties, and the expression of a gene encoding an isoform of PME (PEST1) was associated with cooked tuber textural properties. In this study, a transgenic approach was undertaken to investigate further the impact of the PEST1 gene. Antisense and over-expressing potato lines were generated. In over-expressing lines, tuber PME activity was enhanced by up to 2.3-fold; whereas in antisense lines, PME activity was decreased by up to 62%. PME isoform analysis indicated that the PEST1 gene encoded one isoform of PME. Analysis of cell walls from tubers from the over-expressing lines indicated that the changes in PME activity resulted in a decrease in pectin methylation. Analysis of processed tuber texture demonstrated that the reduced level of pectin methylation in the over-expressing transgenic lines was associated with a firmer processed texture. Thus, there is a clear link between PME activity, pectin methylation and processed tuber textural properties.<br /> (© 2011 The Authors. Plant Biotechnology Journal © 2011 Society for Experimental Biology, Association of Applied Biologists and Blackwell Publishing Ltd.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1467-7652
Volume :
9
Issue :
8
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Plant biotechnology journal
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
21281424
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7652.2011.00591.x