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Carbohydrate and ethylene levels related to fruitlet drop through abscission zone A in citrus

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Abstract

Citrus fruits have two abscission zones (AZ), named A (in the pedicel) and C (in the calyx). Early fruitlet abscission takes place exclusively through AZ A, while at June drop it is progressively inactivated and AZ C begins to operate. In previous work, it has been demonstrated that carbohydrate and ethylene regulate fruit drop through abscission zone C. In this paper, we have analysed the effect of these two factors in developing fruitlets of Satsuma mandarins (Citrus unshiu [Mak.] Marc.) cv. Okitsu to elucidate their involvement on abscission through AZ A. The data indicated that ACC content and ethylene production of fruitlets paralleled abscission rates. Sucrose supplementation increased fruit set, although did not counteract the abscising effect induced by ACC. Branch girdling of terminal fruitlets carrying several leaves significatively reduced ethylene production and abscission rates, and increased sugar content. Pedicel girdling showed the opposite. Taken together, the results revealed that the carbohydrate content may be a biochemical signal involved in the mechanisms controlling abscission through AZ A. The evidence also showed parallelisms between ethylene and its activation. As the induction of higher ethylene levels after the period of AZ A activity, however, was not able to promote fruit drop, it is also concluded that solely ethylene is not sufficient to activate abscission.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank A. Almenar, A. Boix, I. López and I. Sanchís for help in both field and lab work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias, Apartado Oficial, 46113, Moncada, Valencia, Spain

    Domingo J. Iglesias, Francisco R. Tadeo, Eduardo Primo-Millo & Manuel Talon

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  1. Domingo J. Iglesias
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  2. Francisco R. Tadeo
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  3. Eduardo Primo-Millo
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  4. Manuel Talon
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Correspondence to Manuel Talon.

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Communicated by D. Treutter

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Iglesias, D.J., Tadeo, F.R., Primo-Millo, E. et al. Carbohydrate and ethylene levels related to fruitlet drop through abscission zone A in citrus. Trees 20, 348–355 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-005-0047-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-005-0047-x

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