Unravelling the Mode of Action of Ripening-Specific MADS-box Genes for Development of Tools to Improve Banana Fruit Shelf-life and Quality

Fruit deterioration is a consequence of a genetically-determined fruit ripening and senescence programs, in which developmental factors lead to a climacteric rise of ethylene production in ethylene-sensitive fruits such as tomato and banana. Breeding of tomato with extended fruit shelf life involves the incorporation of a mutation in RIN, a MADS-box transcription factor participating in developmental control signalling of ripening. The RIN mode of action is not fully understood, and it may be predicted to interact with other MADS-box genes to execute its effects. The overall goal of this study was to demonstrate conservation of ripening control functions between banana and tomato and thus, the potential to genetically extend shelf-life in banana based on tools developed in tomato. The specific objectives were: 1. To increase the collection of potential RIN-like genes from banana; 2. To verify their action as developmental regulators; 3. To elucidate MADS-box gene mode of action in ripening control; 4. To create transgenic banana plants that express low levels of endogenous Le-RIN- like, MaMADS- gene(s). We have conducted experiments in banana as well as in tomato. In tomato we have carried out the transformation of the tomato rin mutant with the MaMADS1 and MaMADS2 banana genes. We have also developed a number of domain swap constructs to functionally examine the ripening-specific aspects of the RIN gene. Our results show the RIN-C terminal region is essential for the gene to function in the ripening signalling pathway. We have further explored the tomato genome databases and recovered an additional MADS-box gene necessary for fruit ripening. This gene has been previously termed TAGL1 but has not been functionally characterized in transgenic plants. TAGL1 is induced during ripening and we have shown via RNAi repression that it is necessary for both fleshy fruit expansion and subsequent ripening. In banana we have cloned the full length of six MaMADS box genes from banana and determined their spatial and temporal expression patterns. We have created antibodies to MaMADS2 and initiated ChI assay. We have created four types of transgenic banana plants designed to reduce the levels of two of the MaMADS box genes. Our results show that the MaMADS-box genes expression in banana is dynamically changing after harvest and most of them are induced at the onset of the climacteric peak. Most likely, different MaMADS box genes are active in the pulp and peel and they are differently affected by ethylene. Only the MaMADS2 box gene expression is not affected by ethylene indicating that this gene might act upstream to the ethylene response pathway. The complementation analysis in tomato revealed that neither MaMADS1 nor MaMADS2 complement the rin mutation suggesting that they have functionally diverged sufficiently to not be able to interact in the context of the tomato ripening regulatory machinery. The developmental signalling pathways controlling ripening in banana and tomato are not identical and/or have diverged through evolution. Nevertheless, at least the genes MaMADS1 and MaMADS2 constitute part of the developmental control of ripening in banana, since transgenic banana plants with reduced levels of these genes are delayed in ripening. The detailed effect on peel and pulp, of these transgenic plants is underway. So far, these transgenic bananas can respond to exogenous ethylene, and they seem to ripen normally. The response to ethylene suggest that in banana the developmental pathway of ripening is different than that in tomato, because rin tomatoes do not ripen in response to exogenous ethylene, although they harbor the ethylene response capability This study has a major contribution both in scientific and agricultural aspects. Scientifically, it establishes the role of MaMADS box genes in a different crop-the banana. The developmental ripening pathway in banana is similar, but yet different from that of the model plant tomato and one of the major differences is related to ethylene effect on this pathway in banana. In addition, we have shown that different components of the MaMADS-box genes are employed in peel and pulp. The transgenic banana plants created can help to further study the ripening control in banana. An important and practical outcome of this project is that we have created several banana transgenic plants with fruit of extended shelf life. These bananas clearly demonstrate the potential of MaMADS gene control for extending shelf-life, enhancing fruit quality, increasing yield in export systems and for improving food security in areas where Musaspecies are staple food crops.