Global patterns of protein abundance during the development of cold hardiness in blueberry

Authors: DIE, JOSE - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA); ARORA, RAJEEV - Iowa State University; Rowland, Lisa

Submitted to: Environmental and Experimental Botany
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/11/2015
Publication Date: 4/1/2016
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/61851
Citation: Die, J.V., Arora, R., Rowland, L.J. 2016. Global patterns of protein abundance during the development of cold hardiness in blueberry. Environmental and Experimental Botany. 124:11-21.

Interpretive Summary: Blueberry is a major berry crop widely grown throughout the United States. Extreme cold temperatures in winter and early spring, however, prevent crop production in some parts of the country and reduce yield when extreme cold temperature cause plant damage. Additional knowledge is required to better understand how blueberry plants respond to cold temperatures and survive freezing conditions. We conducted experiments to identify compounds that plants produce under cold weather conditions. We identified 104 proteins that plants produced in response to cold temperature and determined the function of these proteins in the plant. This information will be used by scientists to further characterize cold hardiness in blueberry and develop plants that are more tolerant to freezing temperatures.

Technical Abstract: To gain a better understanding of cold acclimation process in blueberry, we investigated the proteome-level changes that occur in flower buds with increasing exposure to chilling temperatures using the 2D-DIGE technique. A total of 104 differentially expressed spots were identified by mass spectrometry. Different quantitative patterns of protein induction or suppression were found. This, with qualitative differences affecting the regulation of several functional groups suggest, as a whole, that plants are able to monitor changes in the environment and then respond by modulating their proteome accordingly. Major pathways increasing in abundance included stress-related proteins, carbohydrate/energy metabolism, amino acid metabolism, biosynthesis of phenolic compounds and gene expression regulation. On the other hand, pathways decreasing in abundance consisted of stress-related proteins, photosynthetic proteins and cell growth and structural components. Their possible implication in the development of cold hardiness is discussed.