The biosynthesis and regulation of aroma-related volatiles is extensively studied due to the contribution of these chemicals to fruit flavor. Recently, a collaborative project between the Institute of Fruit Science at Zhejiang University and the Department of Horticultural Science at the University of Florida revealed that TomloxC is involved in the biosynthesis of C5 volatiles in tomato. The related paper entitled “A 13-lipoxygenase, TomloxC, is essential for synthesis of C5 flavour volatiles in tomato”, has been published in Journal of Experimental Botany (2014, 65: 419-428). Shen Jiyuan, PhD student at Zhejiang University is the first author, and Prof. Chen Kunsong from Zhejiang University and Prof. Harry J. Klee from University of Florida are the co-corresponding authors.
The paper previously published by Dr. Klee’s group showed that C5 volatile compounds played important roles in tomato flavor. In this study, Suppressing expression of TomloxC in tomato fruit resulted in significant reduction in emissions of C5 volatiles including 1-penten-3-ol, 1-penten-3-one and pentenal were reduced to 22-31% of the controls, while the concentrations of (Z)-2-penten-1-ol and 1-pentanol were also decreased but not significantly, indicating that TomloxC is involved in C5 volatiles production in tomato. The role of TomloxC in biosynthesis of C5 volatiles was also observed in tomato leaves by using stimulants such as mechanical wounding and pathogen infection. The levels of C5 and C6 volatiles in TomloxC-AS lines were significantly lower relative to wild-type controls. The emissions of C5 and C6 volatiles were significantly induced by mechanical wounding, but did not increase in response to infection with Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria (Xcv). The reductions of C5 and C6 volatiles in TomloxC-AS tomato leaves caused significant accumulation of linolenic acid, but did not alter the defense of tomato plant to Xcv. These results are helpful and useful for understanding tomato flavor regulation and molecular breeding, as well as related studies for other plants. This study was supported by the USA National Science Foundation, National Natural Science Foundation in China and China Scholar Council.
The paper previously published by Dr. Klee’s group showed that C5 volatile compounds played important roles in tomato flavor. In this study, Suppressing expression of TomloxC in tomato fruit resulted in significant reduction in emissions of C5 volatiles including 1-penten-3-ol, 1-penten-3-one and pentenal were reduced to 22-31% of the controls, while the concentrations of (Z)-2-penten-1-ol and 1-pentanol were also decreased but not significantly, indicating that TomloxC is involved in C5 volatiles production in tomato. The role of TomloxC in biosynthesis of C5 volatiles was also observed in tomato leaves by using stimulants such as mechanical wounding and pathogen infection. The levels of C5 and C6 volatiles in TomloxC-AS lines were significantly lower relative to wild-type controls. The emissions of C5 and C6 volatiles were significantly induced by mechanical wounding, but did not increase in response to infection with Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria (Xcv). The reductions of C5 and C6 volatiles in TomloxC-AS tomato leaves caused significant accumulation of linolenic acid, but did not alter the defense of tomato plant to Xcv. These results are helpful and useful for understanding tomato flavor regulation and molecular breeding, as well as related studies for other plants. This study was supported by the USA National Science Foundation, National Natural Science Foundation in China and China Scholar Council.