Fig. 3

Concentrations of sorbitol (a) and sucrose (b) and transcript abundance of their metabolism-related genes (c-n) in apple fruit cortex and pith tissues in response to fruit load reduction. Means (n = 4) and S.D. of the mean (for metabolite concentrations) or S.E of the mean (for transcript abundance) are displayed. Transcript abundance was measured using quantitative RT-PCR. CC: Control fruit load-Cortex; CP: Control fruit load-Pith; RC: Reduced fruit load-Cortex; RP: Reduced fruit load-Pith. SDH: SORBITOL DEHYDROGENASE; CwINV: CELL WALL INVERTASE; NINV: NEUTRAL INVERTASE; VINV: VACUOLAR INVERTASE; SUSY: SUCROSE SYNTHASE; SPS: SUCROSE PHOSPHATE SYNTHASE. Transcript abundance data were normalized to that of at least two reference genes: ACTIN and GAPDH (GLYCERALDEHYDE 3-PHOSPHATE DEHYDROGENASE). Relative expression data are presented in reference to mean expression at 0 d after treatment in RC. The asterisk and dagger symbols indicate significant difference between control and reduced fruit load treatments in cortex and pith, respectively (α = 0.05). Treatment was performed at 11 d after full bloom. Shaded boxes in the background mark early (dark grey), mid (light grey) and late (white) fruit development