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Expression of ACC oxidase antisense gene inhibits ripening of cantaloupe melon fruits

Nature Biotechnology volume 14, pages 862–866 (1996)Cite this article

Abstract

The plant hormone ethylene plays a major role in the ripening of climacteric fruit. We have generated transgenic cantaloupe Charentais melons expressing an antisense ACC oxidase gene; ACC oxidase catalyzes the last step of ethylene biosynthesis. Ethylene production of transgenic fruit was <1 % of control untransformed fruit, and the ripening process was blocked both on and off the vine. The antisense phenotype could be reversed by exogenous ethylene treatment. Analysis of antisense ACC oxidase melons indicated that the ripening process includes ethylene-dependent and ethylene-independent pathways. Because the transgenic line we generated displays extended storage life and improved quality, it has a promising potential for commercial development.

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Author notes

  1. Jean-Claude Pech: email: pech@flora.ensat.fr

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ecole Nationale Supérieure Agronomique de Toulouse, UA INRA, 145 Avenue de Muret, 31076, Toulouse Cedex, France

    Ricardo Ayub, Monique Guis, Mohamed Ben Amor, Laurent Gillot, Jean-Paul Roustan, Alain Latché, Mondher Bouzayen & Jean-Claude Pech

Authors
  1. Ricardo Ayub
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  2. Monique Guis
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  3. Mohamed Ben Amor
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  4. Laurent Gillot
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  5. Jean-Paul Roustan
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  6. Alain Latché
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  7. Mondher Bouzayen
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  8. Jean-Claude Pech
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Ayub, R., Guis, M., Amor, M. et al. Expression of ACC oxidase antisense gene inhibits ripening of cantaloupe melon fruits. Nat Biotechnol 14, 862–866 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0796-862

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