Journal Article

Regulation of polar auxin transport in grapevine fruitlets (Vitis vinifera L.) and the proposed role of auxin homeostasis during fruit abscission

Gouthu, Satyanarayana, Abello, Carlos, Espinoza, Carmen, Serrano, Alejandra, Arce-Johnson, Patricio, Kühn, Nathalie, Deluc, Laurent, Arce, Aníbal

2016

Overview

Background Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), the most abundant auxin, is a growth promoter hormone involved in several developmental processes. Auxin homeostasis is very important to its function and this is achieved through the regulation of IAA biosynthesis, conjugation, degradation and transport. In grapevine, IAA plays an essential role during initial stages of berry development, since it delays fruitlet abscission by reducing the ethylene sensitivity in the abscission zone. For this reason, Continuous polar IAA transport to the pedicel is required. This kind of transport is controlled by IAA, which regulates its own movement by modifying the expression and localization of PIN-FORMED (PIN) auxin efflux facilitators that localize asymmetrically within the cell. On the other hand, the hormone gibberellin (GA) also activates the polar auxin transport by increasing PIN stability. In Vitis vinifera, fruitlet abscission occurs during the first two to three weeks after flowering. During this time, IAA and GA are present, however the role of these hormones in the control of polar auxin transport is unknown. Results In this work, the use of radiolabeled IAA showed that auxin is basipetally transported during grapevine fruitlet abscission. This observation was further supported by immunolocalization of putative VvPIN proteins that display a basipetal distribution in pericarp cells. Polar auxin transport and transcripts of four putative VvPIN genes decreased in conjunction with increased abscission, and the inhibition of polar auxin transport resulted in fruit drop. GA 3 and IAA treatments reduced polar auxin transport, but only GA 3 treatment decreased VvPIN transcript abundance. When GA biosynthesis was blocked, IAA was capable to increase polar auxin transport, suggesting that its effect depends on GA content. Finally, we observed significant changes in the content of several IAA-related compounds during the abscission period. Conclusions These results provide evidence that auxin homeostasis plays a central role during grapevine initial fruit development and that GA and IAA controls auxin homeostasis by reducing polar auxin transport.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Abscission / Acetic acid / Agriculture / Auxin / Biochemistry and physiology / Biological transport / Biomedical and Life Sciences / Biosynthesis / ethylene / flowering / Fruit - genetics / Fruit - growth & development / Fruit - metabolism / fruit drop / fruiting / Fruits / Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / genes / Genetic aspects / gibberellic acid / Grapes / growth promotion / Homeostasis / Hormones / indole acetic acid / Indoleacetic Acids - metabolism / Life Sciences / pedicel / pericarp / Physiological aspects / Plant Proteins - genetics / Plant Proteins - metabolism / Plant Sciences / proteins / radiolabeling / Research Article / Tree Biology / Vitis - genetics / Vitis - growth & development / Vitis - metabolism / Vitis vinifera