Polynucleotide sequence of fruit softening associated b-d-n- acetylhexosaminidase and its uses for enhancing fruit shelf life

A polypeptide having amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:

• 3 or SEQ ID NO:
• 5.

A process for delaying fruit softening in plant, said process comprising transforming a plant cell, tissue or any part thereof with the recombinant vector comprising the polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having hexosaminidase activity, wherein the nucleotide sequence of said polynucleotide encodes a polypeptide having at least about 85% identity with an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:

• 3 or SEQ ID NO:
• 5, wherein said polynucleotide is in anti-sense orientation.

A process for delaying fruit softening in plant, said process comprising decreasing the level of hexosaminidase in transgenic plant compared to its level in non-transgenic plant by expression of an RNA interference (RNAi) construct comprising at least a fragment of at least 20 contiguous nucleotides of the polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide having hexosaminidase activity, wherein the nucleotide sequence of said polynucleotide encodes a polypeptide having at least about 85% identity with an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:

• 3 or SEQ ID NO:
• 5;
• and screening the resulting plants for reduced level of hexosaminidase relative to said non-transgenic plant.

A process for delaying fruit softening in plant, said process comprising decreasing the level of hexosaminidase in transgenic plant compared to its level in non-transgenic plant by expression of an RNA interference (RNAi) construct comprising a sense polynucleotide strand comprising at least 20 contiguous nucleotides from the sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO:

• 2 or SEQ ID NO:
• 4, and an antisense polynucleotide strand that hybridizes to said sense polynucleotide strand, wherein the antisense polynucleotide strand and the sense polynucleotide strand form a duplex;
• and screening the resulting plants for reduced level of hexosaminidase relative to said non-transgenic plant.