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内容記述 |
Frequent typhoons in Japan cause serious fruit drop in fruit farms. The abscission zone, where organ separation occurs at the junction between branch and fruit, facilitates harvesting but also weakens adhesion, leading to fruit drops in strong winds. The strength of these cells depends on pectin, which binds cellulose in cell walls, and calcium (Ca) enhances this strength by cross-binding pectin. Controlling Ca in the abscission zone could help develop cultivation methods that prevent fruit drop. In this study, we used in-air micro-Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE), a multi-element mapping technique, to visualize Ca distribution during fruit development and its relation to abscission zone formation. During the flowering stage before fruit set, Ca was localized in a dotted pattern around the abscission zone and remained until the immature (green fruit) stage. As the fruit matured, the dotted Ca gradually dispersed and became evenly distributed throughout the zone. These findings clarify the timing and location of Ca behavior and may help identify internal factors, such as genes and phytohormones, that reinforce abscission zones. |
