Use of biotechnologies to increase the storability and shelf life of fruit

International Symposium Feb15-17, Rome

Use of biotechnologies to increase the storability and shelf life of fruit

2016.02.16 Eric van de Weg


Problem

Fruit has a limited storability & shelf-life● Loss of produce

● Decay, diseases● Short selling window

● Over-supply -> low prices Impact

● Growers● Less food to consume● Less food to sell -> Reduced income & financial sustainability

● Global population● Less food● Inefficient use scarce resources

http://www.gardenguyhawaii.com/2011/11/mango-anthracnose.html

http://www.123rf.com/photo_702968_hand-of-overripe-and-decaying-bananas-on-white-background-isolated.html

M. J. Mahovic ttp://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/LyraEDISServlet?command=getImageDetail&image_soid=FIGURE 4&document_soid=HS131&document_version=51786


Biotechnology can help Making available of cultivars with better

● Storage & shelf-life● Harvest window

Classical Breeding + Molecular markers

New Breeding Technologies

Decrease post harvest loss: Pre-harvest measures


Two types of fruitClimacteric fruit

Non-climacteric fruit

Tomato, Apple, Banana, Mango, Peach, Pears, Avocado, Melon

● Needs ethylene for ripening

http://www.pvfarms.com/watermelon.php

Citrus, Grape, Watermelon, Strawberries

● does not need ethylene


Ethylene

Gas Signalling hormone Initiates ripening Ethylene from ripe fruit accelerates ripening unripe fruit

Pictures taken from http://glutenfreehomemaker.com/how-to-ripen-green-fruit-kitchen-tip/ http://www.realfoods.co.uk/article/the-real-foods-guide-to-ripening-bananas

http://www.google.nl/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiP9JDm78nKAhWDthoKHdb9C-cQjRwIBw&url=http://www.realfoods.co.uk/article/the-real-foods-guide-to-ripening-bananas&psig=AFQjCNF0PFTXMheKClPT-7adecSDFORahQ&ust=1453978926680297


Ripening & Taste Ripe fruit:

● Good texture, juicy● Excellent flavour, aroma, color● Most delicious

Harvested very unripe: No full maturation is feasible● Delicate balance

Harvest date / storability / taste

Harvested unripe● Better storability and shelf-life● Less taste !


Harvest date Targeted market

Image: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGLK_vBUymA

Long storage: stages 1 & 2


Biodiversity: Apple cultivars

Storability, Temp controlled: 0.5 – 4 months

Shelf life: 2 – 4 wks

Storability: Temp + air controlled: 0.7 – 13 months


Biodiversity: Tomato cultivars

Shelf life: 7 days – 2 months

Large extension: Thanks to classical breeding & Biotechnology !


Biodiversity: underlying genes

Natural variants of a gene (mutant)

Tomato: ● Combining 3 natural genes

● Ripening blocked● Extreme long shelf-life

● Taste: “to be repaired” by stimulating other pathways

Apple:● Joint effect of ~7 natural genes● Ripening process slowed down● Taste maintained


Experiences Tomato, apple...... Some specific genes involved in

1. Production and perception of ethylene in fruit2. Production/ activity cell-wall degrading enzymes

ACS

ACO

Ethylene

ETR

Effects

ACO-Gene

2 genes for production

1 gene for perception

- Other functions maintained !

- On-off switches

On/Off

On/Off

One for fruit maturation- On-switch corrupted - No ethylene production - Deletion of 2 nucleotides


Prospects Tropical crops: Mango?

Harvested fruit: Limited storability & shelf-life ~96% production for home-market, ~4% export

Storability & shelf improved: ● Harvesting unripe fruit● Forced ripening close to selling:

● Ethylene + Temperature treatment ● Less tasty

http://www.fruitnet.com/americafruit/article/164144/first-aussie-mangoes-shipped-to-the-ushttp://www.dawn.com/news/1182818 http://www.skymetweather.com/content/agriculture-and-economy/mango-exports-from-india-face-a-hard-time/

http://www.ctvnews.ca/business/why-the-eu-alphonso-mango-ban-s-sweet-news-in-india-1.1809895

Natural biodiversity Mango

King of the mangoes: Rich, creamy, tender pulp texture

Export ‼ Old cultivar, before 1515

cv "Alphonso”https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alphonso_(mango)


New Australian cultivar: CalypsoTM

BreedingAverageAustralia

Calypso

Production ton/ha 10 30% 1st grade 60 85

Source: http://www.hin.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/9591/Mangos.pdf

Production & Shelf-life increasedCurrently: Successful in exportx Less tasty

http://www.freshplaza.com/article/135404/Calypso%C2%AE-Aussie-mangoes-hit-in-US

First shipment to USA


Biotechnology, storability & shelf life Need

● More cvs with good storability & shelf life● Maintaining excellent taste

New Breeding Techniques ready to go● Gene-editing

● No adding of new DNA● Improvement existing, popular cultivars● Turn-around shorter than classical breeding

Target genes known● Ethylene related● Cell-wall degradation


GM-fruit: Current status

Approved● Apple No flesh browning 2015

USA ● Eggplant Insect resistance 2013

Bangladesh● Plum Virus resistance

2007 USA● Melon Storability, shelf-life 1999

USA● Papaya Virus resistance

1998 USA● Tomato Storability, shelf-life 1992-9

USA,Canada,

Mexico, China Field tests

● Banana Black Sigatoka fungus USA

● Orange Citrus greening USA


Storability & shelf life: Current GMO’sDerived from two approaches:

1. Insertion foreign gene

● Redirecting pathways● New products● Additional antibiotic gene added to trace

GMO-cells

2. Silencing:● Blocking genes = pathways● No new proteins produced● Methods not specific: similar genes blocked too● Additional gene added to trace GMO-cells


Storability & shelf life: InnovationPrecision Biotechnology

● Editing : Removal of a tiny DNA segment

● Promotor : Switch off ! Changes only in

specific tissue(s) Specific development stage(s) e.g. only Mature Fruit

Advantage: ● Identical / close to natural genes (mutations)

Disadvantage: ● More expensive: Additional research needed on

promotors

ACO-GeneOn/Off

On/Off


Who benefits? Local: benefits directlyExport: May takes longer to build a marketDifferent turnaround, different prospects ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTphqTbP8iM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTphqTbP8iMhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MALFk56jPE

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-20/washing-mangoes/6870578 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-30/mango-packing-shed/4989350http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-22/mangoes-in-bin-to-be-inspected/6795344


Time-line: Action now impact 15-20 yrs

Application new technology

In vitro plantlet -> fruit bearing trees

Evaluation different new plants● Overall agronomic performance● Shelf life <> taste

0-3

3-6

6-8

9

9-12

13

~15

Admission procedure

Best plant: Multiplication few -> thousands

Plantation of orchards

First production

en.wikipedia.

http://baguioheraldexpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Banana-Plantation.jpg


Biotechnology on tropical crops New Breeding Techniques ready to go

● Gene-editing● No adding of new DNA● Improvement existing, popular cultivars● Turn-around shorter than classical breeding

Genes of interest known from other crops

Info on New Technologies: ● Brochure: http://edepot.wur.nl/357723● Site event: today 13.15-14.15

● Venue: Sheikh Zayed Centre ● “New breeding technologies for

smallholders’ challenges”


Questions to be adressed

Level of precision breeding ?● More specificity -> less undesired site-effects ?● Higher investments, Delayed return on investment

Who controls cultivar development ?● Private? Public? Public Private Partnerships

Theme for development aid ?● 90% of GM-growers = small farmers!● Food security, jobs & income ● Vision infrastructure development long term effects


Use of biotechnologies to increase the storability and shelf life of fruit

[email protected], Plant Breeding Wageningen UR, The Netherlands

ThanksQuestions ?

mailto:[email protected]


Biotechnology on tropical crops New Breeding Techniques ready to go

● Gene-editing● No adding of new DNA● Improvement existing, popular cultivars● Turn-around shorter than classical breeding

Genes of interest known from other crops

Info on New Technologies: ● Brochure: http://edepot.wur.nl/357723● Site event: today 13.15-14.15

● Venue: Sheikh Zayed Centre ● “New breeding technologies for

smallholders’ challenges”

Use of biotechnologies to increase the storability and shelf life of fruit

Education

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