SlPLT6 controls ripening initiation and quality traits through modulation of histone acetylation and methylation in tomato
Abstract
Improving fruit growth and quality without compromising yield is a highly sought-after goal in crop breeding. Here, we report that an EAR motif-containing transcription factor SlPLT6 controls the onset of fruit ripening and quality traits in tomato. SlPLT6 knockout caused precocious ripening initiation and enhanced fruit qualities without penalizing yield in two tomato cultivars. SlPLT6 represses genes involved in ripening initiation and major quality traits by directly binding to their promoters. Moreover, SlPLT6 connects two repressive mechanisms by recruiting Histone Deacetylase 1 via its C-terminal EAR motif and LIKE HETEROCHROMATIN PROTEIN 1b through the first AP2 domain. Furthermore, Sly-miR159 acts upstream of SlPLT6 to release its repression. Taken together, our data provide insights into the operating mode of SlPLT6 in modulating fruit ripening and quality traits and define a unique gene for targeted crop improvement aimed at upgrading fruit quality without yield penalty.
Article Details
Journal Info
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
National Academy of Sciences
Authors (16)
Xiaoqing He
Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University
Yi Wu
Peng Shu
Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University
Yanpeng Yin
Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University
Heng Deng
Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University
Shiyu Ying
Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University
Mengbo Wu
Panpan Zhao
State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry
Tengbo Huang
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University
Julien Pirrello
Laboratoire de Recherche en Sciences Végétales–Génomique et Biotechnologie des Fruits-UMR5546, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier, Institut Polytechnique de Toulouse, Auzeville
Yang Zhang
Don Grierson
School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus
Zhenhui Zhong
Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University
Yiguo Hong
Mondher Bouzayen
Laboratoire de Recherche en Sciences Végétales–Génomique et Biotechnologie des Fruits-UMR5546, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier, Institut Polytechnique de Toulouse, Auzeville
Mingchun Liu
Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University