Microarray Analysis of Gene Expression Profile Induced by the Biocontrol Yeast Cryptococcus Laurentii in Cherry Tomato Fruit

To obtain an overall view on transcript modification during the cherry tomato fruit responding to biocontrol yeast Cryptococcus laurentii, we performed a microarrary analysis, using Affymetrix Tomato Genechip arrays, representing approximately 10,000 genes. The results showed that 194 and 312 genes were up- or down-regulated, respectively, more then ten time fold (log2 change ratio>or=2 or log2 change ratio<or=-2) in biocontrol yeast treated tomato fruit as compared with control fruits. Those up-regulated included genes involved in metabolism, signal transduction, and stress response. Conversely, genes related to energy metabolism and photosynthesis were generally down-regulated. Our results suggest that biocontrol yeast treatment induces fruit resistance response, suppresses energy metabolism and photosynthesis. A number of transcripts encoding proteins/enzymes which are known to be up-regulated under some biotic and abiotic stress are also up-regulated after the applying biological control yeast to cherry tomato fruit. The expression of these proteins might increase the fruit resistance towards postharvest pathogen infection and damage.