Russeting in Apple Is Initiated After Exposure to Moisture Ends

I. Histological Evidence

authored by

Yun Hao Chen, Jannis Straube, Bishnu P. Khanal, Moritz Knoche, Thomas Debener

Abstract

Russeting (periderm formation) is a critical fruit-surface disorder in apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.). The first symptom of insipient russeting is cuticular microcracking. Humid and rainy weather increases russeting. The aim was to determine the ontogeny of moisture-induced russeting in ‘Pinova’ apple. We recorded the effects of duration of exposure to water and the stage of fruit development at exposure on microcracking, periderm formation and cuticle deposition. Early on (21 or 31 days after full bloom; DAFB) short periods (2 to 12 d) of moisture exposure induced cuticular microcracking—but not later on (66 or 93 DAFB). A periderm was not formed during moisture exposure but 4 d after exposure ended. A periderm was formed in the hypodermis beneath a microcrack. Russeting frequency and severity were low for up to 4 d of moisture exposure but increased after 6 d. Cuticle thickness was not affected by moisture for up to 8 d but decreased for longer exposures. Cuticular ridge thickness decreased around a microcrack. In general, moisture did not affect cuticular strain release. We conclude that a hypodermal periderm forms after termination of moisture exposure and after microcrack formation. Reduced cuticle deposition may cause moisture-induced microcracking and, thus, russeting.

Organisation(s)

Fruit Growing Section
Institute of Horticultural Production Systems
Institute of Plant Genetics
Section Molecular Plant Breeding

Type

Article

Journal

Plants

Volume

9

Pages

1-18

No. of pages

18

Publication date

10.2020

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Ecology, Plant Science

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9101293 (Access: Open)