Interaction of two MADS-box genes leads to growth phenotype divergence of all-flesh type of tomatoes

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 12; no. 1; p. 6892
• Main Authors: Huang, Baowen, Hu, Guojian, Wang, Keke, Frasse, Pierre, Maza, Elie, Djari, Anis, Deng, Wei, Pirrello, Julien, Burlat, Vincent, Pons, Clara, Granell, Antonio, Li, Zhengguo, van der Rest, Benoît, Bouzayen, Mondher
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Nature Publishing Group 25.11.2021; Nature Publishing Group UK; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: Cell cycle; Cell Proliferation - genetics; Cell Wall - genetics; Cultivars; Fruit - cytology; Fruit - genetics; Fruit - growth & development; Fruits; Gene deletion; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Genes; Genetic Variation; Genotypes; Homology; Life Sciences; Loci; MADS Domain Proteins - genetics; MADS Domain Proteins - metabolism; Mutation; Phenotype; Phenotypes; Plant breeding; Plant Proteins - genetics; Plant Proteins - metabolism; Ripening; Solanum lycopersicum - cytology; Solanum lycopersicum - genetics; Solanum lycopersicum - growth & development; Tomatoes; Transcriptomics; Vegetal Biology; Plant development; Plant breeding; Molecular engineering in plants; Agricultural genetics
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27117-7

All-flesh tomato cultivars are devoid of locular gel and exhibit enhanced firmness and improved postharvest storage. Here, we show that SlMBP3 is a master regulator of locular tissue in tomato fruit and that a deletion at the gene locus underpins the All-flesh trait. Intriguingly, All-flesh varieties lack the deleterious phenotypes reported previously for SlMBP3 under-expressing lines and which preclude any potential commercial use. We resolve the causal factor for this phenotypic divergence through the discovery of a natural mutation at the SlAGL11 locus, a close homolog of SlMBP3. Misexpressing SlMBP3 impairs locular gel formation through massive transcriptomic reprogramming at initial phases of fruit development. SlMBP3 influences locule gel formation by controlling cell cycle and cell expansion genes, indicating that important components of fruit softening are determined at early pre-ripening stages. Our findings define potential breeding targets for improved texture in tomato and possibly other fleshy fruits.