Comparative proteomic analysis on fruit ripening processes in two varieties of tropical mango (Mangifera indica)

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is an economically important fruit. However, the marketability of mango is affected by the perishable nature and short shelf-life of the fruit. Therefore, a better understanding of the mango ripening process is of great importance towards extending its postharvest shelf life. Proteomics is a powerful tool that can be used to elucidate the complex ripening process at the cellular and molecular levels. This study utilized 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2D-GE) coupled with MALDI-TOF/TOF to identify differentially abundant proteins during the ripening process of the two varieties of tropical mango, Mangifera indica cv. ‘Chokanan’ and Mangifera indica cv ‘Golden Phoenix’. The comparative analysis between the ripe and unripe stages of mango fruit mesocarp revealed that the differentially abundant proteins identified could be grouped into the three categories namely, ethylene synthesis and aromatic volatiles, cell wall degradation and stress-response proteins. There was an additional category for differential proteins identified from the ‘Chokanan’ variety namely, energy and carbohydrate metabolism. However, of all the differential proteins identified, only methionine gamma-lyase was found in both ‘Chokanan’ and ‘Golden Phoenix’ varieties. Six differential proteins were selected from each variety for validation by analysing their respective transcript expression using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The results revealed that two genes namely, glutathione S-transferase (GST) and alpha-1,4 glucan phosphorylase (AGP) were found to express in concordant with protein abundant. The findings will provide an insight into the fruit ripening process of different varieties of mango fruits, which is important for postharvest management

Is a mango just a mango? Testing within-fruit oviposition site choice and larval performance of a highly polyphagous fruit fly

For fruit flies, fully ripe fruit is preferred for adult oviposition and is superior for offspring performance over unripe or ripening fruit. Because not all parts of a single fruit ripen simultaneously, the opportunity exists for adult fruit flies to selectively choose riper parts of a fruit for oviposition and such selection, if it occurs, could positively influence offspring performance. Such fine scale host variation is rarely considered in fruit fly ecology, however, especially for polyphagous species which are, by definition, considered to be generalist host users. Here we study the adult oviposition preference/larval performance relationship of the Oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae), a highly polyphagous pest species, at the “within-fruit” level to see if such a host use pattern occurs. We recorded the number of oviposition attempts that female flies made into three fruit portions (top, middle and bottom), and larval behavior and development within different fruit portions for ripening (color change) and fully-ripe mango, Mangifera indica L. (Anacardiaceae). Results indicate that female B. dorsalis do not oviposit uniformly across a mango fruit, but lay most often in the top (i.e., stalk end) of fruit and least in the bottom portion, regardless of ripening stage. There was no evidence of larval feeding site preference or performance (development time, pupal weight, percent pupation) being influenced by fruit portion, within or across the fruit ripening stages. There was, however, a very significant effect on adult emergence rate from pupae, with adult emergence rate from pupae from the bottom of ripening mango being approximately only 50% of the adult emergence rate from the top of ripening fruit, or from both the top and bottom of fully-ripe fruit. Differences in mechanical (firmness) and chemical (total soluble solids, titratable acidity, total non-structural carbohydrates) traits between different fruit portions were correlated with adult fruit utilisation. Our results support a positive adult preference/offspring performance relationship at within-fruit level for B. dorsalis. The fine level of host discrimination exhibited by B. dorsalis is at odds with the general perception that, as a polyphagous herbivore, the fly should show very little discrimination in its host use behavior

Efeito da reeducação postural global no alinhamento corporal e nas condições clínicas de indivíduos com disfunção temporomandibular associada a desvios posturais Effect of global postural reeducation on body alignment and on clinical status of individuals with temporomandibular disorder associated to postural deviations

Este estudo visou verificar o efeito da técnica de reeducação postural global (RPG) nas condições físicas, psicológicas e psicossociais, assim como no alinhamento corporal, de indivíduos com disfunção temporomandibular (DTM) associada a desvio postural. Participaram 20 indivíduos com DTM e com desvio postural confirmado por exame físico, avaliados, antes e depois do tratamento de RPG, pelos critérios diagnósticos de desordens temporomandibulares (RDC/TMD, na sigla em inglês) e quanto às medidas angulares, por fotogrametria digital. O tratamento consistiu em 10 sessões semanais de RPG. Os resultados após o tratamento mostram, na classificação da disfunção, maior predomínio de desordens apenas musculares (em detrimento das articulares e por deslocamento de disco) e redução da intensidade da dor orofacial; o percentual de indivíduos sem depressão aumentou de 10% para 35%; o percentual de indivíduos com classificação normal de sintomas físicos (excluindo itens de dor) passou de 30% para 55%. Foi encontrada melhora estatisticamente significante na maioria das medidas angulares, exceto nos ângulos frontais dos membros inferiores e ângulo perna/retropé direito. O alinhamento horizontal da cabeça e as medidas de lordose cervical e lombar, com valores normais antes da RPG, não se modificaram. Conclui-se que, com o tratamento de RPG, os indivíduos apresentaram importantes melhoras dos sintomas físicos e psicológicos da DTM, assim como melhora do alinhamento e simetria corporais.<br>The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of the technique of global postural re-education (GPR) on body alignment and clinical status of individuals with temporomandibular disorder (TMD) associated to postural deviations. Twenty individuals with both TMD and postural deviations confirmed by physical examination were assessed, before and after treatment, by the research diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders (RDC/TMD) and as to body angle measures, by digital photogrammetry. Treatment consisted of 10 weekly, 45-minute GPR sessions. Results after treatment show higher predominance of myogenic dysfunction (rather than joint or disc ones) and significant orofacial pain intensity relief; the percentage of individuals without depression raised from10% to 35%; the percentage of individuals with physical symptoms classified as normal (excluding pain items) raised from 30 to 55%. A statistically significant improvement was found in most body structures angle measures, except at lower limb frontal angles and at the right leg/foot angle. Head alignment and measures of cervical and lumbar lordosis, having normal values before treatment, did not change. Hence the GPR treatment may be said to have brought significant relief of TMD physical and psychological symptoms, as well as improvement in body alignment and symmetry

Effect of carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen (O2) levels on quality of ‘Palmer’ mangoes under controlled atmosphere storage

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Processo FAPESP: 2005/56159-1Processo FAPESP: 2005/56160-0With the objective to evaluate the modifications in the fruit quality, ‘Palmer’ mangoes were stored at 12.8 °C for 30 days in controlled atmosphere storage that contained a low level of oxygen (5 kPa) which was associated with increasing levels of carbon dioxide CO2 (0, 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20 kPa CO2). Controlled atmosphere storage did not effect mango respiration. However, transfer mangoes, that were previously stored at high levels of CO2 (5 kPa O2 + 15 kPa CO2 and 5 kPa O2 + 20 kPa CO2) to ambient temperature presented higher respiratory rates. No significant effects of increasing CO2 levels on color (L*, chromaticity, and hue angle), firmness, physical–chemical parameter and carbohydrate metabolism (total and reducing sugars, soluble pectin) were observed. After transfer to ambient temperature the mangoes ripened normally without any signs of CO2 injury. Therefore, the increment levels of CO2 neither improved the quality of the ‘Palmer’ mangoes nor presented a synergistic effect with low-oxygen when compared to 5 kPa O2-control