Friedman, H., Dept. of Postharvest Science of Fresh Produce, ARO, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
Ocampo, E.T., Institute of Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, University of the Philippines, Laguna 4031, Philippines
Elitzur, T., Dept. of Postharvest Science of Fresh Produce, ARO, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
Pesis, E., Dept. of Postharvest Science of Fresh Produce, ARO, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
Giovannoni, J.J., Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Tower Road, Cornell Campus, Ithaca NY 14853, United States
Vrebalov, J., Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Tower Road, Cornell Campus, Ithaca NY 14853, United States

The study of developmental control of banana ripening has been initiated by cloning two MADS-box cDNA fragments (MaMADS1, MaMADS2) from ripening banana. The genes showed 66% homology to each other and 49 and 54% homology to LeRIN, respectively. Their homology to C-terminus is only 18 and 33%, respectively. MaMADS1 and MaMADS2 genes are different from several MADS-box genes isolated recently from various banana cultivars. None of the banana genes isolated so far exhibited high homology in their C-terminus to LeRIN. Typical climacteric ethylene production rate was observed nine days after harvest in the banana fruit. It preceded completion of yellow color development and a reduction in firmness. MaMADS1 and MaMADS2 exhibited high expression in ripe pulp. However, MaMADS1 was also expressed in other banana plant organs. Our results suggest that although MaMADS1 and MaMADS2 are phylogenetically distant from LeRIN, they may function in banana fruit ripening.