CBN-V Video Archives - S2-13
Oxidative Stress Related Genes and Cassava Post-harvest Physiological Deterioration

Reilly K¹, Y. Han, J. Tohme² and J.R. Beeching¹

1. Dept. of Biology & Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK j.r.beeching@bath.ac.uk
2. CIAT, A.A. 6713, Cali, Colombia

        Storage roots of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) undergo a rapid post-harvest physiological deterioration (PPD). The process is endogenous, occurring within 24–48 hours after harvest, and is initially observed as blue/black vascular streaking followed by browning of the storage parenchyma. Several lines of evidence suggest that PPD is an enzymatically mediated oxidative process. Therefore, molecular and biochemical approaches were used to study the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cassava storage root after harvest, and to examine the expression of the primary ROS-scavenging enzymes — catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase, during the post harvest period. In addition, the expression of 2 cDNAs which may be implicated in programmed cell death responses in other plant systems - an aspartic protease and a cysteine protease inhibitor, were examined by Northern blotting.

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