PP trontiers in Plant Science OPEN ACCESS Edted byt Abert Bate, fan tora Researeh (Cow ON ay Reviewed ty: river of Nebaake Loa, United States “Correspondence: romina peteschpucyc! Specatyseeton: cremoaeaty, section of th jour seen Plant Sconce ‘Accepted: 31 May 2019 ‘cation: Pechecn R, Usnota Fuerte ‘Alo, Omer Pe Dei 8. Meneses Cand Campos Vargas ft (2019) Primary Metabtsm "avocado Fat, Front Plant Sr 10785 Primary Metabolism in Avocado Fruit Romina Pedreschi™, Virgilio Uarrota’, Claudia Fuentealba’, Juan E. Alvaro’, Patricio Olmedo’, Bruno G. Defilippi’, Claudio Meneses? and Reinaldo Campos-Vargas* "Laborato oe FielolaPoetoeecnay Senica de Alantes, Facutas de CenclasAgrondicsy ie Ament, Escunl be Agonomin, Pontila Unrssad Catsa Se Vabarao, Vapraso, Chie, "Fcutad te Cencae de Via, Centro de Bistrot Vegeta Universisad Ares Bal, Santiago, Chie, "Unasde Postcosechs Ise 3 Irvesdgacoes Agropecuaas, MA a Pain, Sango, Cie Avocado (Persea americana Mill) is rich in a variety of essential nutrients and phytochemicals; thus, consumption has drasticaly increased inthe last 10 years. Avocado unlike other fruit is characterized by oll accumulation during growth and development and presents a unique carbohydrate patter, There are few previous and current stucles, related to primary metabolism. The fruit is also quite unique since it contains large ‘amounts of C, sugars (mannoheptulose and porseitol acting as transportable and storage sugars and as potential regulators of fruit ripening, These G; sugars play a central role during fruit growth and development, but stil confirmation is needed regarding the biosynthetic routes and the physiological function during growth and development of avocado fruit. Relatively recent transcriptome studies on avocado mesocarp during development and ripening have revealed that most ofthe ollis synthesized during early stages of development and that oil synthesis is halted when the fruit is harvested (ore-climacteric stage). Most ofthe ollis accumulated in the form of triacylglycerol (TAG) representing 60-70% in dry basis of the mesocarp tissue. During early stages of fut development, high expression of transcripts retatec to fatty acid and TAG biosynthesis has been reported and downregulation of samo gones in more advanced stages but without cessation of the process until harvest. The increased expression of fatty acid key genes and regulators such as PaWRIT, PaACP4-2, and PapPK:p-1 has also been reported t during avocado frut development. During postharvest, there is minimal change in the fatty acid composition of the frit. Almost inexistent information regarding the role of ‘organic acid and amino acid metabolism during growth, development, and ripening of avocados avaliable. Cell wall metabolism understanciing in avocado, even though crucial in terms of fruit quay, stil presents severe gaps regarding the interactions between cel wall remodeling, fruit development, and postharvest modifications. bbe consistent with the total fatty acid increase and fatty acid composition Keywords: Persea americana, mannoheptulse, persetel ol aly acié, aminoacid, eel wall INTRODUCTION Avocado (Persea americana Mill) isa rich ol fruit of high economic importance inthe international lade. Ite nutritional value hat been lately highlighted: it i a rich source of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated farty acide associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular diseases (Mendez and Hernandez, 2007; Rodriguer-Sanchez. et al, 2015), It is also an important source