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)