Abstract
Ripening of fleshy fruits is controlled by a series of intricate signaling processes. Here, we report a FERONIA/FER-like receptor kinase, FaMRLK47, that regulates both strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) fruit ripening and quality formation. Overexpression and RNAi-mediated downregulation of FaMRLK47 delayed and accelerated fruit ripening, respectively. We showed that FaMRLK47 physically interacts with FaABI1, a negative regulator of abscisic acid (ABA) signaling, and demonstrated that FaMRLK47 regulates fruit ripening by modulating ABA signaling, a major pathway governing strawberry fruit ripening. In accordance with these findings, overexpression and RNAi-mediated downregulation of FaMRLK47 caused a decrease and increase, respectively, in the ABA-induced expression of a series of ripening-related genes. Additionally, overexpression and RNAi-mediated downregulation of FaMRLK47 resulted in an increase and decrease in sucrose content, respectively, as compared with control fruits, and respectively promoted and inhibited the expression of genes in the sucrose biosynthesis pathway (FaSS and FaSPS). Collectively, this study demonstrates that FaMRLK47 is an important regulator of strawberry fruit ripening and quality formation, and sheds light on the signaling mechanisms underlying strawberry fruit development and ripening.
Highlights
Fleshy fruits are physiologically classified as climacteric or non-climacteric
The FERONIA-like genes belong to a family of CrRLK1-like receptor-like kinases (RLKs) (CrRLK1Ls), which in turn belong to a super-family of malectin domain-containing RLKs
In Arabidopsis, the malectin domain-containing RLKs are proposed to be encoded by a gene subfamily, named the CrRLK1L family, which has 17 members (Lindner et al, 2012)
Summary
Fleshy fruits are physiologically classified as climacteric or non-climacteric. Climacteric fruits show a sharp increase in respiration during the ripening process, while non-climacteric fruits do not (Nitsch, 1953; Coombe, 1976; Brady, 1987). Most basic studies of fruit development and ripening have focused on climacteric fruits, such as the model plant Solanum lycopersicum (tomato). Fragaria × ananassa (strawberry) is a typical non-climacteric fruit. Studies of strawberry fruit development and ripening are likely to provide insight into the regulatory mechanisms underlying non-climacteric fruit development and ripening. The ripening of fleshy fruits is a complex process involving dramatic changes in physiological and biochemical metabolism, which trigger changes in color, texture, flavor, and aroma
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