Elucidating the role of polygalacturonase genes in strawberry fruit softening

The aim of this study was to determine the role of genes encoding polygalacturonases in strawberry fruit softening. To this purpose, several transgenic lines, cv. Chandler, were generated: plants with PG genes FaPG1 or FaPG2 downregulated, alone or in combination, by antisense transformation. Plants were grown in a confined greenhouse and fruits were harvested at the stage of full ripeness (100% of fruit surface red). The results obtained indicate that the silencing of these genes reduced fruit softening at similar level but there is not a sinergistic effect on fruit firmness.