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Abstract
Final fruit size in apple is perhaps most influenced by the cell division and cell expansion phases of fruit growth. During the cell division phase, the cell cycle is regulated in part by cyclin dependent kinases. These kinases can be inhibited by KIP-related proteins (KRPs) and prevent the cell cycle from progressing to the next stage. Thus, KRPs are negative regulators of cell division in apple fruits and can have an effect on the number of cells present. The transcript accumulation of KRPs change over time and space depending on the cortex or pith of the fruit. It is proposed that promoter methylation may be a factor that contributes to the changing expression patterns of KRP4. By treating DNA with bisulfite, the methylation patterns of the promoter can be observed. Results indicate that KRP4 promoter methylation does change as the fruit develops.