LcERF2 modulates cell wall metabolism by directly targeting a UDP-glucose-4-epimerase gene to regulate pedicel development and fruit abscission of litchi

Genome-Wide Analysis of the Polygalacturonase Gene Family in Macadamia and Identification of Members Involved in Fruit Abscission

Severe physiological fruit abscission significantly limits yield potential in macadamia. Polygalacturonase (PG), a key hydrolytic enzyme in pectin degradation, plays a critical role in fruit abscission. However, in the macadamia genome, the PG gene family and the members involved in fruit abscission remain poorly understood. In this study, 56 PG gene family members, which were unevenly distributed across 13 of the 14 chromosomes, were identified in the macadamia genome. Phylogenetic analysis clustered these genes into seven clades, with most members found in clades D and E. The MiPGs contained 3-11 exons and 2-10 introns, and except for those in clades E and G, most contained conserved domains I-IV and were predicted to be localized exclusively to the cell membrane. MiPG promoter analysis revealed numerous light-, phytohormone-, and stress-responsive cis-elements. Expression profiling during fruit development showed that twelve MiPGs were either undetectable or expressed at low levels in the fruit abscission zone, whereas eight were highly expressed. MiPG9, MiPG37, and MiPG53 were significantly upregulated during abscission induced by a combination of girdling with defoliation and ethephon treatments. Moreover, transient MiPG37 overexpression in lily petals promoted premature abscission, suggesting that this gene plays a pivotal role in macadamia fruit abscission. These findings advance the functional characterization of macadamia PG genes and highlight a subset of candidate genes for further genetic manipulation to improve fruit retention.

Genome-Wide Identification of the Polygalacturonase Gene Family and Its Potential Association with Abscission Zone in Capsicum annuum L

BACKGROUND

Polygalacturonase (PG) genes regulate plant organ abscission by degrading pectin in the cell wall. However, their association with pedicel abscission susceptibility in pepper remains poorly understood.

METHODS

47 CaPG genes were identified were identified in the 'Zunla1' genome and characterized by structural, evolutionary, and comparative genomic analyses. Their expression profiles across various tissues and fruit development stages were examined using transcriptome data. Ethephon treatment and qRT-PCR were employed to assess gene responses during ethylene-induced pedicel abscission.

RESULTS

The 47 CaPG genes were distributed across 12 chromosomes, with CaPG1 to CaPG5 unanchored. Most proteins were hydrophilic, nuclear-localized, and had promoters enriched in light-responsive elements. Collinearity analysis revealed limited segmental duplication, and Ka/Ks values indicated strong purifying selection. Phylogenetic and collinearity analyses showed that CaPG genes are more closely related to those in tomato than in Arabidopsis or maize. Expression profiling revealed tissue- and stage-specific patterns, with 21 CaPG genes associated with pedicel abscission susceptibility. Ethephon treatment enhanced abscission and upregulated several CaPG genes.

CONCLUSIONS

This study offers insights into the CaPG gene family's structure, evolution, and function. Specific CaPG genes likely contribute to ethylene-mediated pedicel abscission, providing potential targets for improving fruit-retention traits in pepper.

A novel trait to reduce the mechanical damage of peach fruits at harvest: The first genetic dissection study for peduncle length

In peach, a long peduncle can help minimize mechanical damages/physical injuries in the fruit at harvest and can also be useful in postharvest handling and transportation. In view of genetically dissecting the peduncle length (PL) in peach, we have performed a Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL) mapping study for PL using a F2 progeny of 117 individuals from the cross 'PI 91459 [NJ Weeping]' x 'Bounty' (WxBy). The progeny was phenotyped for three years (2011, 2012 and 2014) and the QTL mapping analysis was performed using four methods: Kruskall-Wallis, Interval Mapping, Multiple QTL Mapping and Genome-Wide Composite Interval Mapping. QTL analysis led to the identification of 9 QTLs distributed on linkage groups (LG) 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7. A stable QTL was identified on LG6 (22,978,897 to 24,666,094 bp) and explained up to 63% of the phenotypic variance. Within the genetic interval of the stable QTL on LG6 potential candidate genes with functional annotation encompassing cellular expansion, hormone regulation, transcriptional regulation, developmental processes such as meristem development, and responses to environmental cues were found. The results reported in this study represent the first insight into the genetic basis of PL and a step forward towards the introduction of novel traits in peach commercial breeding in order to minimize the problems related to mechanical damage/injuries to peach fruits that commonly might occur during at harvest and post-harvest processes.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11032-025-01547-3.

Targeting a cysteine proteinase inhibitor and a defensin-like protein in Litchi chinensis seed development leveraging endosperm single-nucleus transcriptome

Seed development is one of the most important agricultural traits, determining both the crop yield and quality of fleshy fruits. A typically abortive litchi cultivar, Guiwei, exhibits heterogeneity in seed size across production areas, years, and individual trees. Previous studies have shown that 'Guiwei' seed development failure is associated with endosperm arrest and chilling conditions. Herein, we identified a cysteine proteinase inhibitor (LcCPI5) and defensin-like protein (LcDEFL) as key genes in determining 'Guiwei' seed development through combined analysis of 'Guiwei' and 'Huaizhi' endosperm single-nucleus RNA-sequence and transcriptome data of 'Guiwei' seed subjected to different temperature treatments. LcCPI5 was exclusively expressed in the endosperm sample of 'Guiwei' at 25 days post-anthesis, and its expression decreased in response to chilling. The silencing of LcCPI5 led to significantly larger seeds, whereas employing the cysteine proteinase inhibitor E-64 resulted in smaller seeds in the cultivar 'Guiwei'. Unlike LcCPI5, LcDEFL promotes litchi seed development. The large seed cultivar 'Huaizhi' had substantially higher expression of LcDEFL than the partly abortive cultivar 'Guiwei'. LcDEFL silencing led to a notable reduction in the size of litchi seeds. These findings point to the post-translational modulation of cysteine proteinase and the critical role of cysteine-rich proteins in litchi seed development.

Signaling pathways mediating the induction of preharvest fruit drop in litchi

Certain litchi varieties, such as "Nuomici", are highly susceptible to preharvest fruit drop, which leads to significant losses in fruit yield and economic value. However, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying this issue are not yet fully understood. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the signaling pathways that facilitate preharvest fruit drop in litchi, using "Nuomici" and "Huaizhi" cultivars as examples, which demonstrate high and low preharvest fruit drop rates, respectively. Our findings revealed that "Nuomici" experienced a substantial preharvest fruit drop, with a cumulative rate of 41.68%, significantly higher than the 1.44% observed in "Huaizhi". Cellulase activity assays showed a significant increase in cellulase activity in the abscission zone of "Nuomici", which coincided with the occurrence of preharvest fruit drop, in contrast to the relatively low levels in "Huaizhi". Phytohormone assays indicated lower indole-3-acetic acid content in the pericarp, aril, and seeds of "Nuomici" during the preharvest stage compared to "Huaizhi", coupled with higher abscisic acid levels in the seeds of "Nuomici". Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis identified 180, 282, 655, and 241 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the pericarp, aril, seed, and abscission zone, respectively, between the two cultivars during preharvest fruit drop. These DEGs are intricately involved in the generation and transmission of abscission signals from fruit tissues, encompassing PIN, PIN-LIKES, LAX, and SAUR genes related to polar auxin transport, ethylene diffusion, as well as perceiving these signals and activating the abscission process within the abscission zone. This includes ACO and ILR genes involved in hormone biosynthesis and signal transduction, regulation by WRKY, NAC, and bHLH transcription factors, AAO genes involved in response to reactive oxygen species, and EXP, EG, and PG genes involved in cell wall degradation in the abscission zone. Based on these comprehensive findings, we propose a model for preharvest fruit drop triggered by a series of molecular events in litchi, providing valuable insights into the complex mechanisms governing this phenomenon.

Transcription Factor VlbZIP14 Inhibits Postharvest Grape Berry Abscission by Directly Activating VlCOMT and Promoting Lignin Biosynthesis

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is the most effective preservative for table grapes as it reduces the respiratory intensity of berries and inhibits mold growth. However, excessive SO2 causes berry abscission during storage, resulting in an economic loss postharvest. In this study, grapes were exogenously treated with SO2, SO2 + 1.5% chitosan, SO2 + 1.5% eugenol, and SO2 + eugenol-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (SN). In comparison to SO2 treatment, SN treatment reduced the berries' abscission rate by 74% while maintaining the quality of the berries. Among the treatments, SN treatment most effectively inhibited berry abscission and maintained berry quality. RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) revealed that SN treatment promoted the expression of genes related to cell wall metabolism. Among these genes, VlCOMT was detected as the central gene, playing a key role in mediating the effects of SN. Dual luciferase and yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) assays demonstrated that VlbZIP14 directly activated VlCOMT by binding to the G-box motif in the latter's promoter, which then participated in lignin synthesis. Our results provide key insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the SN-mediated inhibition of berry abscission and could be used to improve the commercial value of SO2-treated postharvest table grapes.

An ethylene response factor AcERF116 identified from A. catechu is involved in fruitlet abscission

Procedural abscission of outer reproductive organs during flower and fruit development occurs in most plant lineages. Undesired abscission, such as fruitlet shedding causes considerable yield loss in many fruit-producing species. Ethylene is one of the key factors regulating organ abscission. However, the participants involved in the ethylene-mediated abscission pathway remains largely unidentified. In this study, we focused on the ethylene response transcription factors (ERFs) regulating fruitlet abscission in an industrial tree species, A. catechu. A total of 165 ERF genes have been found in the A. catechu genome and eight of these showed distinct expression between the "about-to-abscise" and "non-abscised" samples. An AcERF116 gene with high expression level in the fruit abscission zone (FAZ) was selected for further study. Overexpression of the AcERF116 gene accelerated cell separation in the abscission zone (AZ) and promoted pedicel abscission in transgenic tomato lines. The PG (ploygalacturonase) activity was enhanced in the FAZs of A. catechu fruitlets during ethylene-induced fruitlet abscission, while the PME (pectin methylesterase) activity was suppressed. In addition, cytosolic alkalization was observed in the AZs during abscission in both tomato and A. catechu. Our results suggest that AcERF116 plays a critical role in the crosstalk of ethylene and fruitlet abscission in A. catechu.

Identification of PavHB16 gene in Prunus avium and validation of its function in Arabidopsis thaliana

Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) is one of the most economically important fruits in the world. However, severe fruit abscission has brought significant challenges to the cherry industry. To better understand the molecular regulation mechanisms underlying excessive fruit abscission in sweet cherry, the fruit abscission characteristics, the anatomical characteristics of the abscission zone (AZ), as well as a homeodomain-Leucine Zipper gene family member PavHB16 function were analyzed. The results showed that the sweet cherry exhibited two fruit abscission peak stages, with the "Brooks" cultivar demonstrating the highest fruit-dropping rate (97.14%). During these two fruit abscission peak stages, both the retention pedicel and the abscising pedicel formed AZs. but the AZ in the abscising pedicel was more pronounced. In addition, a transcription factor, PavHB16, was identified from sweet cherry. The evolutionary analysis showed that there was high homology between PavHB16 and AtHB12 in Arabidopsis. Moreover, the PavHB16 protein was localized in the nucleus. Overexpression of PavHB16 in Arabidopsis accelerated petal shedding. In the PavHB16-overexpressed lines, the AZ cells in the pedicel became smaller and denser, and the expression of genes involved in cell wall remodeling, such as cellulase 3 gene (AtCEL3), polygalacturonase 1 (AtPG1), and expandin 24(AtEXPA24) were upregulated. The results suggest that PavHB16 may promote the expression of genes related to cell wall remodeling, ultimately facilitating fruit abscission. In summary, this study cloned the sweet cherry PavHB16 gene and confirmed its function in regulating sweet cherry fruit abscission, which provided new data for further study on the fruit abscission mechanism.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-024-01443-8.

Phytohormones and candidate genes synergistically regulate fruitlet abscission in Areca catechu L

BACKGROUND

The fruit population of most plants is under the control of a process named "physiological drop" to selectively abort some developing fruitlets. However, frequent fruitlet abscission severely restricts the yield of Areca catechu. To reveal the physiological and molecular variations in this process, we detected the variation of phytohormone levels in abscised and non-abscised fruitlets in A. catechu.

RESULTS

The levels of gibberellin acid, jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, abscisic acid and zeatin were elevated, while the indole-3-acetic acid and indole-3-carboxaldehyde levels were declined in the "about-to-abscise" part (AB) of abscission zone (AZ) compared to the "non-abscised" part (CK). Then the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between AB and CK were screened based on transcriptome data. DEGs involved in phytohormone synthesis, response and transportation were identified as key genes. Genes related to cell wall biosynthesis, degradation, loosening and modification, and critical processes during fruit abscission were identified as role players. In addition, genes encoding transcription factors, such as NAC, ERF, WRKY, MADS and Zinc Finger proteins, showed differentially expressed patterns between AB and CK, were also identified as candidates.

CONCLUSIONS

These results unraveled a phytohormone signaling cross talk and key genes involved in the fruitlet abscission process in A. catechu. This study not only provides a theoretical basis for fruitlet abscission in A. catechu, but also identified many candidate genes or potential molecular markers for further breeding of fruit trees.

LcERF10 functions as a positive regulator of litchi fruitlet abscission

Phytohormone ethylene is well-known in positive modulation of plant organ abscission. However, the molecular mechanism underlying ethylene-induced abscission remains largely unknown. Here, we identified an ethylene-responsive factor, LcERF10, as a key regulatory gene in litchi fruitlet abscission. LcERF10 was strongly induced in the fruitlet abscission zone (FAZ) during the ethylene-activated abscission. Silencing of LcERF10 in litchi weakened the cytosolic alkalization of the FAZ and reduced fruitlet abscission. Moreover, LcERF10 directly bound the promoter and repressed the expression of LcNHX7, a Na+/H+ exchanger that was down-regulated in FAZ following the ethylene-activated abscission and up-regulated after LcERF10 silencing. Additionally, ectopic expression of LcERF10 in Arabidopsis promoted the cytosolic alkalization of the floral organ AZ and accelerated the floral organ abscission. Collectively, our results suggest that the transcription factor LcERF10 plays a positive role in litchi fruitlet abscission.

Transcriptome analysis provides insight into the regulatory mechanisms underlying pollen germination recovery at normal high ambient temperature in wild banana (Musa itinerans)

Introduction

Cultivated banana are polyploid, with low pollen fertility, and most cultivars are male sterile, which leads to difficulties in banana breeding research. The selection of male parent with excellent resistance and pollen fertility is therefore essential for banana breeding. Wild banana (Musa itinerans) have developed many good characteristics during natural selection and constitute an excellent gene pool for breeding. Therefore, research on wild banana breeding is very important for banana breeding.

Results

In the current analysis, we examined the changes in viability of wild banana pollens at different temperatures by in vitro germination, and found that the germination ability of wild banana pollens cultured at 28°C for 2 days was higher than that of pollens cultured at 23°C (pollens that could not germinate normally under low temperature stress), 24°C (cultured at a constant temperature for 2 days) and 32°C (cultured at a constant temperature for 2 days). To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the germination restoration process in wild banana pollens, we selected the wild banana pollens that had lost its germination ability under low temperature stress (23°C) as the control group (CK) and the wild banana pollens that had recovered its germination ability under constant temperature incubation of 28°C for 2 days as the treatment group (T) for transcriptome sequencing. A total of 921 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected in CK vs T, of which 265 were up-regulated and 656 were down-regulated. The combined analysis of Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) revealed that the activation, metabolism of various substances (lipids, sugars, amino acids) play a major role in restoring pollen germination capacity. TCA cycle and the sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoid biosynthetic pathways were also significantly enriched in the KEGG pathway. And we found that some DEGs may be associated with pollen wall formation, DNA methylation and DNA repair. The cysteine content, free fatty acid (FFA) content, H2O2 content, fructose content, and sucrose content of pollen were increased at treatment of 28°C, while D-Golactose content was decreased. Finally, the GO pathway was enriched for a total of 24 DEGs related to pollen germination, of which 16 DEGs received targeted regulation by 14 MYBs.

Discussions

Our study suggests that the balance between various metabolic processes, pollen wall remodelling, DNA methylation, DNA repairs and regulation of MYBs are essential for germination of wild banana pollens.

Genome-Wide Identification, Characterization, and Expression Analysis of the NAC Gene Family in Litchi chinensis

NAC proteins play an essential role in the growth and development of litchi, especially during reproductive development. However, a comprehensive analysis of the litchi NAC gene family is currently absent. Based on information from the litchi genome, we found that the 112 NAC genes of litchi show an uneven distribution on the chromosomes. Phylogenetic and conserved structural domain analyses indicated that different types of variability were exhibited in the family of litchi NACs (LcNACs). Gene covariance analysis showed that the LcNACs showed better similarity in the same genus than with Arabidopsis. We further investigated the differential expression patterns of LcNACs in buds and rudimentary leaves of litchi. qRT-PCR results implied that they were involved in the process. Profiling of LcNAC promoter elements in litchi showed that they were extensively involved in light response, phytohormone regulation, abiotic stress response, and plant growth and development processes. This study provides new insights into the identification, structural characterization, tissue-specific expression analysis, and promoter response elements of LcNACs. It reveals the characteristics of the LcNACs and lays the foundation for the subsequent understanding of its biological functions and molecular regulatory mechanisms.

Quantitative N-Glycomic and N-Glycoproteomic Profiling of Peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] during Fruit Ripening

Being part of the human diet, peach is an important fruit consumed worldwide. In the present study, a systematic first insight into the N-glycosylation of peach fruit during ripening was provided. First, N-glycome by reactive matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry indicated that 6 of 24 N-glycans of peach were differentially expressed. Second, a comparative N-glycoproteome was characterized via ¹⁸O-tagged N-glycosylation site labeling followed by nano-liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (nLC-ESI-MS/MS). Totally 1464 N-glycosites on 881 N-glycoproteins were identified, among which 291 N-glycosites on 237 N-glycoproteins were expressed differentially with a fold change value of 1.5 or 0.67. The enrichment analysis of GO and KEGG revealed that four pathways including other glycan degradation, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, and protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum were mainly enriched, in which several important N-glycoproteins with dynamic change during fruit ripening were further screened out. Our findings on a large scale for N-glycosylation analysis of peach fruit during ripening may provide new molecular insights for comprehending N-glycoprotein functions, which should be of great interest to both glycobiologists and analytical chemists.

Function of a non-enzymatic hexokinase LcHXK1 as glucose sensor in regulating litchi fruit abscission

Fruit abscission is a severe hindrance to commercial crop production, and a lack of carbohydrates causes fruit abscission to intensify in a variety of plant species. However, the precise mechanism by which carbohydrates affect fruit setting potential has yet to be determined. In the current study, we noticed negative correlation between hexose level and fruit setting by comparing different cultivars, bearing shoots of varying diameters, and girdling and defoliation treatments. The cumulative fruit-dropping rate was significantly reduced in response to exogenous glucose dipping. These results suggested that hexose, especially glucose, is the key player in lowering litchi fruit abscission. Moreover, five putative litchi hexokinase genes (LcHXKs) were isolated and the subcellular localization as well as activity of their expressed proteins in catalyzing hexose phosphorylation were investigated. LcHXK2 was only found in mitochondria and expressed catalytic protein, whereas the other four HXKs were found in both mitochondria and nuclei and had no activity in catalyzing hexose phosphorylation. LcHXK1 and LcHXK4 were found in the same cluster as previously reported hexose sensors AtHXK1 and MdHXK1. Furthermore, VIGS-mediated silencing assay confirms that LcHXK1 suppression increases fruit abscission. These findings revealed that LcHXK1 functions as hexose sensor, negatively regulating litchi fruit abscission.

Involvement of IDA-HAE Module in Natural Development of Tomato Flower Abscission

The unwanted detachment of organs such as flowers, leaves, and fruits from the main body of a plant (abscission) has significant effects on agricultural practice. Both timely and precise regulation of organ abscission from a plant is crucial as it influences the agricultural yield. The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) has become a model system for research on organ abscission. Here, we characterized four tomato natural abscission variants named jointless (j), functionally impaired jointless (fij), functionally impaired jointless like (fij like), and normal joint (NJ), based on their cellular features within the flower abscission zones (AZ). Using eight INFLORESCENCE DEFICIENT IN ABSCISSION (SlIDA) genes and eight HAESA genes (SlHAE) identified in the genome sequence of tomato, we analyzed the pattern of gene expression during flower abscission. The AZ-specific expression for three tomato abscission polygalacturonases (SlTAPGs) in the development of flower AZ, and the progression of abscission validated our natural abscission system. Compared to that of j, fij, and fij like variants, the AZ-specific expression for SlIDA, SlIDL2, SlIDL3, SlIDL4, and SlIDL5 in the NJ largely corelated and increased with the process of abscission. Of eight SlHAE genes examined, the expression for SlHSL6 and SlHSL7 were found to be AZ-specific and increased as abscission progressed in the NJ variant. Unlike the result of gene expression obtained from natural abscission system, an in silico analysis of transcriptional binding sites uncovered that SlIDA genes (SlIDA, SlIDL6, and SlIDL7) are predominantly under the control of environmental stress, while most of the SlHSL genes are affiliated with the broader context in developmental processes and stress responses. Our result presents the potential bimodal transcriptional regulation of the tomato IDA-HAE module associated with flower abscission in tomatoes.

Metabolome and transcriptome integration reveals insights into the process of delayed petal abscission in rose by STS

The abscission of plant organs plays an important role in ensuring the normal life activities. Rose is one of the most important ornamental plants, and its premature abscission of petal has seriously affected the quality and commercial value. Silver Thiosulfate (STS) is an ethylene inhibitor, which is often used preservative to delay the senescence of fresh cut flowers. To understand the regulatory mechanism of petal abscission in rose by STS, integrative analysis of the metabolome and transcriptome profiles was performed in abscission zone (AZ) tissues of rose under different treatments (MOCK, STS, ETH, STS+ETH). The results showed that STS significantly delayed the petal abscission in phenotype and reduced the activity of two enzymes (pectinase and cellulase) associated with cell wall degradation in physiological level. STS affected the contents of five metabolites (shikonin, jasmonic acid, gluconolactone, stachyose and D-Erythrose 4-phosphate), and involved changes in the expression of 39 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with these five metabolites. Five DEGs (LOC112192149, LOC112196726, LOC112189737, LOC112188495, and LOC112188936) were probably directly associated with the biosynthesis of shikonin, jasmonic acid, and D-Erythrose 4-phosphate. Meanwhile, the effect of STS on the abscission process significantly involved in the pentose phosphate pathway and amino acid biosynthesis pathway. In addition, STS had a greater effect on the transcription factors, phytohormone related DEGs represented by auxin and ethylene, DEGs related to disease resistance and amino acid, etc. Above all, STS negatively influences petal abscission of rose, these results maybe provide a reference for subsequent studies on petal abscission of rose by STS.

Genome-Wide Identification of the DOF Gene Family Involved in Fruitlet Abscission in Areca catechu L

Fruitlet abscission frequently occurs in Areca catechu L. and causes considerable production loss. However, the inducement mechanism of fruitlet abscission remains mysterious. In this study, we observed that the cell architecture in the abscission zone (AZ) was distinct with surrounding tissues, and varied obviously before and after abscission. Transcriptome analysis of the “about-to-abscise” and “non-abscised” AZs were performed in A. catechu, and the genes encoding the plant-specific DOF (DNA-binding with one finger) transcription factors showed a uniform up-regulation in AZ, suggesting a role of the DOF transcription in A. catechu fruitlet abscission. In total, 36 members of the DOF gene family distributed in 13 chromosomes were identified from the A. catechu genome. The 36 AcDOF genes were classified into nine subgroups based on phylogenic analysis. Six of them showed an AZ-specific expression pattern, and their expression levels varied according to the abscission process. In total, nine types of phytohormone response cis-elements and five types of abiotic stress related cis-elements were identified in the promoter regions of the AcDOF genes. In addition, histochemical staining showed that lignin accumulation of vascular bundles in AZ was significantly lower than that in pedicel and mesocarp, indicating the specific characteristics of the cell architecture in AZ. Our data suggests that the DOF transcription factors might play a role in fruitlet abscission regulation in A. catechu.

Energy homeostasis mediated by the LcSnRK1α-LcbZIP1/3 signaling pathway modulates litchi fruit senescence

Cellular energy status is a key factor deciding the switch-on of the senescence of horticultural crops. Despite the established significance of the conserved energy master regulator sucrose non-fermenting 1 (SNF1)-related protein kinase 1 (SnRK1) in plant development, its working mechanism and related signaling pathway in the regulation of fruit senescence remain enigmatic. Here, we demonstrate that energy deficit accelerates fruit senescence, whereas exogenous ATP treatment delays it. The transient suppression of LcSnRK1α in litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) fruit inhibited the expression of energy metabolism-related genes, while its ectopic expression in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) promoted ripening and a high energy level. Biochemical analyses revealed that LcSnRK1α interacted with and phosphorylated the transcription factors LcbZIP1 and LcbZIP3, which directly bound to the promoters to activate the expression of DARK-INDUCIBLE 10 (LcDIN10), ASPARAGINE SYNTHASE 1 (LcASN1), and ANTHOCYANIN SYNTHASE (LcANS), thereby fine-tuning the metabolic reprogramming to ensure energy and redox homeostasis. Altogether, these observations reveal a post-translational modification mechanism by which LcSnRK1α-mediated phosphorylation of LcbZIP1 and LcbZIP3 regulates the expression of metabolic reprogramming-related genes, consequently modulating litchi fruit senescence.

Putrescine Treatment Delayed the Softening of Postharvest Blueberry Fruit by Inhibiting the Expression of Cell Wall Metabolism Key Gene VcPG1

The postharvest shelf life of blueberries is very short at room temperature owing to softening, which reduces their edible value. Putrescine (Put) plays an important role in maintaining the firmness and prolonging the storage time of fruits. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between Put and the cell wall metabolism and their roles in the postharvest softening of blueberry. Harvested blueberry fruit was immersed in 1 mM Put aqueous solution for 10 min. After treatment, the blueberries were stored at 20 ± 0.5 °C and 80% relative humidity for 10 days. The results show that Put delayed the softening of the blueberries. Compared to the control, the blueberry fruit treated with Put showed higher levels of firmness and protopectin. Moreover, the activity and expression levels of the cell wall metabolism enzymes were markedly inhibited by the Put treatment, including polygalacturonase (PG), β−galactosylase (β−Gal), and β−glucosidase (β−Glu). The Put treatment promoted the expression of the Put synthesis gene VcODC and inhibited the expression of the Put metabolism gene VcSPDS. Further tests showed that the fruit firmness decreased significantly after the overexpression of VcPG1, which verified that VcPG1 is a key gene for fruit softening. The key transcription factors of fruit softening were preliminarily predicted and the expressions were analyzed, laying a foundation for the subsequent study of transcriptional regulation. These results indicate that Put delays the softening of postharvest blueberry by restraining the cell wall metabolism and maintaining the fruit firmness.

Variations in Pedicel Structural Properties Among Four Pear Species (Pyrus): Insights Into the Relationship Between the Fruit Characteristics and the Pedicel Structure

Fruit pedicel is the bridge linking the parent tree and the fruit, which is an important channel for water and nutrients transport to the fruit. The genetic specificity determines the characteristics of the pedicel and the fruit, but the relationship between the pedicel structure and the fruit characteristics is unexplored. Combining the investigation of fruit characteristics, the statistical analysis of the pedicel structural properties, and the 2D and 3D anatomical observation of the pedicel, this study found distinctive contributions of the pedicel elements to the fruit characteristics in four pear species. The European pear (Conference) showed distinct fruit shape index and pedicel structural properties compared with the oriental pears (Akizuki, Yali, and Nanguoli). The fruit size positively correlated with pedicel length, fiber area, pedicel diameter, the area percentage of the cortex, and the area percentage of phloem; however, fruit firmness and soluble solids concentration are showed a stronger positive correlation with xylem area, pith area, the area percentage of xylem, the area percentage of sieve tube, and the area percentage of pith. Pedicel elements, including pith, fiber, and cortex, likely play a certain role in the fruit growth due to the variations of their characteristics demonstrated in the four pear species. The porosity, the ratio of the surface area to the volume, and the spatial arrangement of the vessels showed significant variations across the pear species, indicating the distinction of the hydraulic conductance of the pedicels. Our findings provided direct evidence that pedicel structural elements contributed distinctively to the fruit characteristics among pear species.