Fig. 5
Phenotypes of NCEDs-VIGS and ACO3-VIGS transgenic fruits. Four ACO gene family members (a) and three NCED1/3 gene family members (b) were identified based on the log2 gene expression levels obtained from RNA-seq data during fruit ripening, including the LG, IC, Br, and FR stages. (c) Nineteen-day-old LG fruit attached to the plants were used for VIGS. (d) About 1 week after infiltration, the NCED1/3-VIGS fruits exhibited colour development, while the control fruits infiltrated with TRV alone remained in the LG stage. (e) Three weeks after infiltration, the ACO3-VIGS fruits exhibited a chimeric phenotype, while the control fruits infiltrated with TRV alone had reached the FR stage. (f) Exogenous 50 μM ethephon rescued the chimeras, with ripening to the FR stage. (g) ACO3 mRNA expression in VIGS fruits was downregulated more than 80% relative to the control, and the average levels of NCED1 and NCED3 expression in VIGS fruits were downregulated more than 70% relative to the control. Ubi3 expression served as the internal control. Error bars represent the SE (n = 3). An asterisk (*) in the columns with same colour indicates a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) based on analysis of variance followed by Duncan’s multiple-range test