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Rehman F, Gong H, Ma Y, Zeng S, Ke D, Yang C, Zhao Y, Wang Y. An ultra-dense linkage map identified quantitative trait loci corresponding to fruit quality- and size-related traits in red goji berry. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1390936. [PMID: 39297015 PMCID: PMC11408189 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1390936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 09/21/2024]
Abstract
Goji berries are a small-fruited shrub with industrial importance whose fruit considered beneficial in both fresh and dried forms. Current germplasms of goji berries include small fruits with a short shelf life, less sweet and bitter taste, and a lack of appropriate genetic information. This study aimed to employ whole genome resequencing to generate an ultra-dense bin linkage map and to elucidate the genetic basis of goji fruit quality and size using quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping analysis in a cross-pollinated hybrid population. To achieve this goal, human sensory tests were carried out to determine the bitter taste (BT) and sweet taste (ST), and to quantify the soluble solid content (SSC), fruit firmness (FF), and fruit size-related traits of fresh goji fruits over three or four years. The results revealed that the goji bin linkage map based on resequencing spanned a total length of 966.42 cM and an average bin interval of 0.03 cM. Subsequent variant calling and ordering resulted in 3,058 bins containing 35,331 polymorphic markers across 12 chromosomes. A total of 99 QTLs, with individual loci in different environments explaining a phenotypic variance of 1.21-16.95% were identified for the studied traits. Ten major effects, including colocalized QTLs corresponding to different traits, were identified on chromosomes 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8, with a maximum Logarithm of Odds (LOD) of 29.25 and 16.95% of explained phenotypic variance (PVE). In addition, four stable loci, one for FF, one for fruit weight (FW), and two for fruit shape index (FSI), were mainly mapped on chromosomes 5, 6, and 7, elucidating 2.10-16.95% PVE. These findings offer valuable insights into the genetic architecture of goji fruit traits along with identified specific loci and markers to further improve and develop sweeter, less bitter and larger fruited goji berry cultivars with extended shelf life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fazal Rehman
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Plant Conservation and Utilization in Southern China, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, China
| | - Haiguang Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Plant Conservation and Utilization in Southern China, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yun Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Plant Conservation and Utilization in Southern China, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shaohua Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Plant Conservation and Utilization in Southern China, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, China
- College of Life Science, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Danmin Ke
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Plant Conservation and Utilization in Southern China, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chao Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Plant Conservation and Utilization in Southern China, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, China
- College of Life Science, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Yuling Zhao
- Jinghe County Goji Industrial Development Center, Jinghe County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Ying Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Plant Conservation and Utilization in Southern China, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, South China National Botanical Garden, Guangzhou, China
- College of Life Science, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
- College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Cai Y, Wang D, Che Y, Wang L, Zhang F, Liu T, Sheng Y. Multiple Localization Analysis of the Major QTL- sfw 2.2 for Controlling Single Fruit Weight Traits in Melon Based on SLAF Sequencing. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:1138. [PMID: 39336729 PMCID: PMC11430989 DOI: 10.3390/genes15091138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2024] [Revised: 08/26/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Cucumis melo is an annual dicotyledonous trailing herb. It is fruity, cool, and refreshing to eat and is widely loved by consumers worldwide. The single fruit weight is an important factor affecting the yield, and thus the income and economic benefits, of melon crops. In this study, to identify the main QTLs (quantitative trait locus) controlling the single fruit weight of melon and thereby identify candidate genes controlling this trait, specific-locus amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF) analysis was performed on the offspring of female 1244 plants crossed with male MS-5 plants. A total of 115 individual plants in the melon F2 population were analyzed to construct a genetic linkage map with a total map distance of 1383.88 cM by the group in the early stages of the project, which was divided into 12 linkage groups with a total of 10,596 SLAF markers spaced at an average genetic distance of 0.13 cM. A total of six QTLs controlling single fruit weight (sfw loci) were detected. Seven pairs of markers with polymorphisms were obtained by screening candidate intervals from the SLAF data. The primary QTL sfw2.2 was further studied in 300 F2:3 family lines grown in 2020 and 2021, respectively, a positioning sfw2.2 between the markers CY Indel 11 and CY Indel 16, between 18,568,142 and 18,704,724 on chromosome 2. This interval contained 136.58 kb and included three genes with functional annotations, MELO3C029673, MELO3C029669, and MELO3C029674. Gene expression information for different fruit development stages was obtained from 1244 and MS-5 fruits on the 15d, 25d, and 35d after pollination, and qRT-PCR (quantitative reverse transcription-PCR) indicated that the expression of the MELO3C029669 gene significantly differed between the parents during the three periods. The gene sequences between the parents of MELO3C029669 were analyzed and compared, a base mutation was found to occur in the intronic interval between the parents of the gene, from A-G. Phylogenetic evolutionary tree analysis revealed that the candidate gene MELO3C029669 is most closely related to Pisum sativum Fimbrin-5 variant 2 and most distantly related to Cucumis melo var. makuwa. Therefore, it was hypothesized that MELO3C029669 is the primary major locus controlling single fruit weight in melon. These results not only provide a theoretical basis for further studies to find genes with functions in melon single fruit weight but also lay the foundation for accelerating breakthroughs and innovations in melon breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Cai
- Horticulture and Landscape Department, Heilongjiang Bayi Agriculture University, Daqing 163000, China; (Y.C.); (L.W.); (F.Z.)
- Horticultural Branch of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150069, China
| | - Di Wang
- Daqing Branch of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Daqing 163000, China; (D.W.); (Y.C.); (T.L.)
| | - Ye Che
- Daqing Branch of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Daqing 163000, China; (D.W.); (Y.C.); (T.L.)
| | - Ling Wang
- Horticulture and Landscape Department, Heilongjiang Bayi Agriculture University, Daqing 163000, China; (Y.C.); (L.W.); (F.Z.)
| | - Fan Zhang
- Horticulture and Landscape Department, Heilongjiang Bayi Agriculture University, Daqing 163000, China; (Y.C.); (L.W.); (F.Z.)
| | - Tai Liu
- Daqing Branch of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Daqing 163000, China; (D.W.); (Y.C.); (T.L.)
| | - Yunyan Sheng
- Horticulture and Landscape Department, Heilongjiang Bayi Agriculture University, Daqing 163000, China; (Y.C.); (L.W.); (F.Z.)
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Li C, Zhao J, Liu Z, Yang Y, Lai C, Ma J, Aierxi A. Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis of Gossypium hirsutum Fiber Development in Mutant Materials ( xin w 139) Provides New Insights into Cotton Fiber Development. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:1127. [PMID: 38674536 PMCID: PMC11054599 DOI: 10.3390/plants13081127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Cotton is the most widely planted fiber crop in the world, and improving cotton fiber quality has long been a research hotspot. The development of cotton fibers is a complex process that includes four consecutive and overlapping stages, and although many studies on cotton fiber development have been reported, most of the studies have been based on cultivars that are promoted in production or based on lines that are used in breeding. Here, we report a phenotypic evaluation of Gossypium hirsutum based on immature fiber mutant (xin w 139) and wild-type (Xin W 139) lines and a comparative transcriptomic study at seven time points during fiber development. The results of the two-year study showed that the fiber length, fiber strength, single-boll weight and lint percentage of xin w 139 were significantly lower than those of Xin W 139, and there were no significant differences in the other traits. Principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis of the RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data revealed that these seven time points could be clearly divided into three different groups corresponding to the initiation, elongation and secondary cell wall (SCW) synthesis stages of fiber development, and the differences in fiber development between the two lines were mainly due to developmental differences after twenty days post anthesis (DPA). Differential expression analysis revealed a total of 5131 unique differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 290 transcription factors (TFs), between the 2 lines. These DEGs were divided into five clusters. Each cluster functional category was annotated based on the KEGG database, and different clusters could describe different stages of fiber development. In addition, we constructed a gene regulatory network by weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) and identified 15 key genes that determined the differences in fiber development between the 2 lines. We also screened seven candidate genes related to cotton fiber development through comparative sequence analysis and qRT-PCR; these genes included three TFs (GH_A08G1821 (bHLH), GH_D05G3074 (Dof), and GH_D13G0161 (C3H)). These results provide a theoretical basis for obtaining an in-depth understanding of the molecular mechanism of cotton fiber development and provide new genetic resources for cotton fiber research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunping Li
- Research Institute of Economic Crops, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi 830091, China; (C.L.); (Z.L.); (Y.Y.); (C.L.)
| | - Jieyin Zhao
- Engineering Research Centre of Cotton, Ministry of Education/College of Agriculture, Xinjiang Agricultural University, 311 Nongda East Road, Urumqi 830052, China;
| | - Zhongshan Liu
- Research Institute of Economic Crops, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi 830091, China; (C.L.); (Z.L.); (Y.Y.); (C.L.)
| | - Yanlong Yang
- Research Institute of Economic Crops, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi 830091, China; (C.L.); (Z.L.); (Y.Y.); (C.L.)
| | - Chengxia Lai
- Research Institute of Economic Crops, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi 830091, China; (C.L.); (Z.L.); (Y.Y.); (C.L.)
| | - Jun Ma
- Research Institute of Economic Crops, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi 830091, China; (C.L.); (Z.L.); (Y.Y.); (C.L.)
| | - Alifu Aierxi
- Research Institute of Economic Crops, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi 830091, China; (C.L.); (Z.L.); (Y.Y.); (C.L.)
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Chen C, Yang Y, Pan L, Xia W, Xu L, Hua B, Zhang Z, Miao M. Genome-Wide Identification of WD40 Proteins in Cucurbita maxima Reveals Its Potential Functions in Fruit Development. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14010220. [PMID: 36672961 PMCID: PMC9859561 DOI: 10.3390/genes14010220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
WD40 proteins, a super gene family in eukaryotes, are involved in multiple biological processes. Members of this family have been identified in several plants and shown to play key roles in various development processes, including acting as scaffolding molecules with other proteins. However, WD40 proteins have not yet been systematically analyzed and identified in Cucurbita maxima. In this study, 231 WD40 proteins (CmWD40s) were identified in C. maxima and classified into five clusters. Eleven subfamilies were identified based on different conserved motifs and gene structures. The CmWD40 genes were distributed in 20 chromosomes; 5 and 33 pairs of CmWD40s were distinguished as tandem and segmental duplications, respectively. Overall, 58 pairs of orthologous WD40 genes in C. maxima and Arabidopsis thaliana, and 56 pairs of orthologous WD40 genes in C. maxima and Cucumis sativus were matched. Numerous CmWD40s had diverse expression patterns in fruits, leaf, stem, and root. Several genes were involved in responses to NaCl. The expression pattern of CmWD40s suggested their key role in fruit development and abiotic stress response. Finally, we identified 14 genes which might be involved in fruit development. Our results provide valuable basis for further functional verification of CmWD40s in C. maxima.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Chen
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Yating Yang
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Liu Pan
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Wenhao Xia
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Lanruoyan Xu
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Bing Hua
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Zhiping Zhang
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Minmin Miao
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of Ministry of Education of China, Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education/Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Correspondence:
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Chen C, Wu XM, Pan L, Yang YT, Dai HB, Hua B, Miao MM, Zhang ZP. Effects of Exogenous α-Naphthaleneacetic Acid and 24-Epibrassinolide on Fruit Size and Assimilate Metabolism-Related Sugars and Enzyme Activities in Giant Pumpkin. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:13157. [PMID: 36361943 PMCID: PMC9656333 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Size is the most important quality attribute of giant pumpkin fruit. Different concentrations and application frequencies of α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) were sprayed on the leaves and fruits of giant pumpkin at different growth stages to determine their effects and the mechanism responsible for fruit size increase. NAA+EBR application improved source strength, and further analysis indicated that NAA+EBR markedly boosted net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), transpiration rate (Tr) and the expression level and activity of galactitol synthetase (GolS), raffinose synthetase (RS), and stachyose synthetase (STS), resulting in an increase in the synthesis of photoassimilate, especially stachyose. Concomitantly, NAA+EBR spray increased stachyose and sucrose contents throughout pumpkin fruit growth and the concentrations of glucose and fructose at 0 and 20 days post-anthesis (DPA) in peduncle phloem sap, implying that such treatment improved the efficiency of assimilate transport from the peduncle to the fruit. Furthermore, it improved the expression and activity of alkaline α-galactosidase (AGA), facilitating assimilate unloading, providing carbon skeletons and energy for fruit growth, and increasing fruit weight by more than 44.1%. Therefore, exogenous NAA and EBR increased source capacity, transportation efficiency, and sink strength, overall promoting the synthesis and distribution of photoassimilate, ultimately increasing fruit size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Chen
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Xuan-Min Wu
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Liu Pan
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Ya-Ting Yang
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Hai-Bo Dai
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Bing Hua
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Min-Min Miao
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Zhi-Ping Zhang
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
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Reddy UK, Natarajan P, Abburi VL, Tomason Y, Levi A, Nimmakayala P. What makes a giant fruit? Assembling a genomic toolkit underlying various fruit traits of the mammoth group of Cucurbita maxima. Front Genet 2022; 13:1005158. [PMID: 36204309 PMCID: PMC9531317 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1005158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Since their introduction in Europe, pumpkins (Cucurbita maxima Duch.) have rapidly dispersed throughout the world. This is mainly because of their wide genetic diversity and Plasticity to thrive in a wide range of geographical regions across the world, their high nutritional value and suitability to integrate with local cuisines, and their long shelf life. Competition for growing the showy type or mammoth-sized pumpkins that produce the largest fruit of the entire plant kingdom has drawn attention. In this study, we used genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms to resolve admixture among different pumpkin groups. Also, to resolve population differentiation, genome-wide divergence and evolutionary forces underlying the evolution of mammoth-sized pumpkin. The admixture analysis indicates that the mammoth group (also called Display or Giant) evolved from the hubbard group with genome-wide introgressions from the buttercup group. We archived a set of private alleles underlying fruit development in mammoth group, and resolved haplotype level divergence involved in the evolutionary mechanisms. Our genome-wide association study identified three major allelic effects underlying various fruit-size genes in this study. For fruit weight, a missense variant in the homeobox-leucine zipper protein ATHB-20-like (S04_18528409) was significantly associated (false discovery rate = 0.000004) with fruit weight, while high allelic effect was consistent across the 3 years of the study. A cofactor (S08_217549) on chromosome 8 is strongly associated with fruit length, having superior allelic effect across the 3 years of this study. A missense variant (S10_4639871) on translocation protein SEC62 is a cofactor for fruit diameter. Several known molecular mechanisms are likely controlling giant fruit size, including endoreduplication, hormonal regulation, CLV-WUS signaling pathway, MADS-box family, and ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. This study provides a general framework for the evolutionary relationship among horticulture groups of C. maxima and elucidates the origins of rare variants contributing to the giant pumpkin fruit size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umesh K. Reddy
- Gus R. Douglass Institute and Department of Biology, West Virginia State University, Institute, Dunbar, WV, United States
- *Correspondence: Umesh K. Reddy, ; Padma Nimmakayala,
| | - Purushothaman Natarajan
- Gus R. Douglass Institute and Department of Biology, West Virginia State University, Institute, Dunbar, WV, United States
| | - Venkata Lakshmi Abburi
- Gus R. Douglass Institute and Department of Biology, West Virginia State University, Institute, Dunbar, WV, United States
| | - Yan Tomason
- Gus R. Douglass Institute and Department of Biology, West Virginia State University, Institute, Dunbar, WV, United States
| | - Amnon Levi
- U.S. Vegetable Laboratory, USDA, ARS, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Padma Nimmakayala
- Gus R. Douglass Institute and Department of Biology, West Virginia State University, Institute, Dunbar, WV, United States
- *Correspondence: Umesh K. Reddy, ; Padma Nimmakayala,
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Bu H, Sun X, Yue P, Qiao J, Sun J, Wang A, Yuan H, Yu W. The MdAux/IAA2 Transcription Repressor Regulates Cell and Fruit Size in Apple Fruit. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23169454. [PMID: 36012719 PMCID: PMC9408813 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23169454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Auxin plays an important role in regulating plant development, and Auxin/indole acetic acid (Aux/IAA) is a type of auxin-responsive gene and plays an important role in auxin signaling; to date, although 29 Aux/IAA proteins have been reported in Abrabidopsis thaliana, only parts of the Aux/IAA family gene functions have been identified. We previously reported that a bud sport of ‘Longfeng’ (LF) apple (Malus domestica), named ‘Grand longfeng’ (GLF), which showed a larger fruit size than LF, has lower expression of MdAux/IAA2. In this study, we identified the function of the MdAux/IAA2 gene in apple fruit size difference using Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation. Overexpression of MdAux/IAA2 decreased the apple flesh callus increment and caused a smaller globular cell size. In addition, overexpression of MdAux/IAA2 in GLF fruit resulted in the reduction of apple fruit size, weight, and cell size, while silencing MdAux/IAA2 in LF apple fruit resulted in an increase in apple fruit weight and cell size. We suggest that the high auxin content depressed the expression of MdAux/IAA2, and that the downregulated expression of MdAux/IAA2 led to the formation of GLF. Our study suggests a mechanism for fruit size regulation in plants and we will explore the transcription factors functioning in this process in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haidong Bu
- Mudanjiang Branch, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Mudanjiang 157000, China
| | - Xiaohuan Sun
- Mudanjiang Branch, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Mudanjiang 157000, China
| | - Pengtao Yue
- Key Laboratory of Fruit Postharvest Biology (Liaoning Province), Key Laboratory of Protected Horticulture (Ministry of Education), National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Northern Horticultural Facilities Design & Application Technology (Liaoning), College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Junling Qiao
- Key Laboratory of Fruit Postharvest Biology (Liaoning Province), Key Laboratory of Protected Horticulture (Ministry of Education), National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Northern Horticultural Facilities Design & Application Technology (Liaoning), College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Jiamao Sun
- Key Laboratory of Fruit Postharvest Biology (Liaoning Province), Key Laboratory of Protected Horticulture (Ministry of Education), National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Northern Horticultural Facilities Design & Application Technology (Liaoning), College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Aide Wang
- Key Laboratory of Fruit Postharvest Biology (Liaoning Province), Key Laboratory of Protected Horticulture (Ministry of Education), National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Northern Horticultural Facilities Design & Application Technology (Liaoning), College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Hui Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Fruit Postharvest Biology (Liaoning Province), Key Laboratory of Protected Horticulture (Ministry of Education), National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Northern Horticultural Facilities Design & Application Technology (Liaoning), College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
- Correspondence: (H.Y.); (W.Y.)
| | - Wenquan Yu
- Mudanjiang Branch, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Mudanjiang 157000, China
- Correspondence: (H.Y.); (W.Y.)
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