EFFECTS OF ETHYLENE ON RNA-METABOLISM IN STRAWBERRY FRUIT AFTER HARVEST

Strawberry fruits, considered to be non-climacteric, do not colour or sweeten following exposure to ethylene and there is a continuous fall in ethylene production during development. In this study attempts were made to determine whether ethylene stimulated any changes in mRNA metabolism. Results show that total RNA levels, poly(A) +RNA levels and RNase activity all increased significantly after strawberry fruit, harvested at the white/pink colour stage, were exposed to ethylene for 12 h. These increases in RNA metabolism were independent of ethylene concentration (10-100 ppm). The possible mechanism of ethylene action on strawberry is discussed.