Fig. 4.

Relative expression of the genes of the tocopherol-core pathway in the flavedo of non-covered (NC) and covered (C) fruits of Star Ruby grapefruit, at the covering time (CT), harvest (H) and during postharvest storage at 2 °C for up to 8 weeks. The genes analyzed were VTE2 (homogentisate phytyl transferase), VTE3a and VTE3b (2-methyl-6-phytyl-1,4-benzoquinol methyltransferase a and b), VTE1 (tocopherol cyclase) and VTE4 (γ-TMT, γ-tocopherol methyltransferase. An expression value of 1 was arbitrarily assigned to the values obtained in the flavedo of C fruit at harvest. The data are mean ± S.E of at least three replicates.