BioMatNet Item: Commercial Success of ECLAIR Programme - AGRE-0015: Improvement of storage capacities of fresh fruits through the biotechnological and technical control of ethylene

Commercial Success of ECLAIR Programme
AGRE-0015: Improvement of storage capacities of fresh fruits through the biotechnological and technical control of ethylene

Contacts

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Biotechnology : FAIR-CT98-4822 Commercial Success of the ECLAIR Programme : Storage/Transport

This Item is taken from a report produced by CPL Scientific on the Commercial Success of ECLAIR Programme 1999 under contract FAIR-CT98-4822. The Project Summary, Links to Individual Project Reports and Preface and Overview are available in separate items.

AGRE-0015: Improvement of storage capacities of fresh fruits through the biotechnological and technical control of ethylene

Science Background

Ripening of some fruits, fresh vegetable produce and flowers is controlled by ethylene.

Objectives

This project aimed to improve storage capacity of fresh fruit (including tomato and melon) by controlling ethylene activity through application of genetics and metabolic modification, as well as optimisation of storage conditions.

Significant changes and results since end of ECLAIR

The research has been continued by some of the original participants (coordinated by Tezier S.A., France) as the demonstration project FAIR-CT96-1138: Technical and economic feasibility of controlling melon ripening through genetic manipulation of ethylene biosynthesis. This project aims to prove the technical and economic feasibility of increasing the storage life and improving the quality of Cantaloupe Charentais melons through genetic manipulation of ethylene biosynthesis.

Wild type (left) and antisense ACC oxidase (right) melons
harvested 38 days post-pollination, stored at 25ºC for 10 days

Results

At end of this ECLAIR project

Knowledge of the physiological, cellular and molecular mechanisms of fruit storage behaviour gained during this project were published. Transgenic melons with controlled ripening were constructed. Optimal conditions for storage including treatment with ethylene gas and coating fruit were identified.

Current position

Some of the participants from this project (Tezier S.A. and INP ENSAT, France, CEBAS, Spain and University of Reading, UK) have continued the research on melons in a demonstration project funded under the FAIR programme. Two genetically modified parental lines of melons expressing an antisense gene encoding ACC oxidase (an enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of the plant hormone ethylene) have been generated and shown to exhibit reduced ethylene synthesis. Crosses from these lines will be studied for positive properties related to shelf life and quality. In addition the project intends to establish that genetically modified fresh fruits of this kind are safe for human consumption and the environment, as well as procedures for marketing and retailing. The acceptability of GMOs to growers, distributors, retailers and consumers, as well as the economic viability of these products will also be assessed.

Impact

Commercial

Melons with reduced ethylene production may be commercially interesting because they:

exhibit greater flexibility in the choice of the harvest date
can be left on the vine without risk of over-ripening and accumulate more sugars
have an extended shelf life reducing post-harvest losses and extending the market

The same technology could be applied to other fruits and vegetables exhibiting poor storage capabilities.

Contacts

Author

TEZIER SA

Denis LOR / TEZIER SA FRANCE