Characterization of Auxin Metabolism in the Ovaries of the Lychee (Litchi chinensis) ‘Salathiel’

Abstract

Seed size affects the edible portion rate of lychee fruit and is therefore an important trait for fruit quality in lychee (Litchi chinensis). Lychee fruits can be classified into four categories in terms of seed properties: normal, small, aborted seed and seedless. ‘Salathiel’ is known to bear a relatively high rate of aborted-seeded (pseudo-parthenocarpy, stenospermocarpy) and seedless (parthenocarpy) fruit regardless of environmental and cultivation conditions. In other horticultural fruit crops, such as tomato, auxin metabolism and signaling is critical for parthenocarpy, although auxin metabolism has not been characterized in relation to (pseudo) parthenocarpy in lychee. The purpose of this study was to characterize the physiological and morphological properties of maternal reproductive organs in ‘Salathiel’ female flowers, with a specific focus on the associated auxin metabolism. Microscopic observations of the internal structures of the ‘Salathiel’ embryo revealed that ‘Salathiel’ reproductive organ differentiation is similar to that of normal-seeded cultivars. However, the obturator was significantly smaller in ‘Salathiel’ than in other normal-seeded cultivars, suggesting that specific developmental characteristics may exist in the maternal reproductive organs of ‘Salathiel’. Our investigation of indole acetic acid (IAA) contents revealed that IAA levels were significantly higher in ‘Salathiel’ than in other cultivars. Moreover, the IAA metabolite contents also differed significantly between ‘Salathiel’ and the normal-seeded and small-seeded cultivars. Specifically, N-3-hydroxy-2-oxindole-3-acetyl glutamic acid contents were significantly higher in ‘Salathiel’ than in ‘Yu Her Pau’ and ‘Hei Ye’. 3-hydroxy-2-oxindole-3-acetic acid was lower in ‘Yu Her Pau’ and ‘Salathiel’ than in ‘Hei Ye’, while indole-acetylaspartic acid was significantly lower in ‘Salathiel’ compared to ‘Hei Ye’. Expression analyses of the genes related to auxin biosynthesis, catabolism, transport, and signaling indicated that the IAA influx-related and efflux-related gene expression levels were respectively higher and lower in ‘Salathiel’ than in the other cultivars, which is consistent with the increased IAA accumulation in the ‘Salathiel’ ovary. The possible involvement of auxin metabolism in the aborted-seeded and seedless fruit production in ‘Salathiel’ is discussed herein.