Previous studies showed that inhibition of pectate lyase
gene in strawberry fruits resulted in a lower degree of
in vitro cell wall swelling and pectin solubilization, indicating
a higher integrity of cell wall in transgenic fruits
(Jime´nez-Bermu´dez et al., 2002). Furthermore, fruit cell
wall analysis of the two transgenic antipectate lyase lines
used in this work showed an increased content of pectins
covalently bound to cell wall, i.e. those pectins extracted
with NaCO3 (unpublished results). The results shown in
this paper clearly indicate that reduction of softening
induced by pectate lyase gene inactivation improves the
characteristics of processed fruits in the form of jam.