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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Hilo, Hawaii » Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center » Tropical Plant Genetic Resources and Disease Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #372984
Research Project: Genetic Improvement and Sustainable Production Systems for Sub-tropical and Tropical Crops in the Pacific Basin

Location: Tropical Plant Genetic Resources and Disease Research

Title: Roles of transcription factor SQUAMOSA promoter binding protein-like gene family in papaya (Carica papaya) development and ripening

Author
item XU, YONGJIE - University Of Hawaii
item XU, HAIXAI - University Of Hawaii
item Wall, Marisa
item YANG, JINZENG - University Of Hawaii

Submitted to: Genomics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/14/2020
Publication Date: 3/16/2020
Citation: Xu, Y., Xu, H., Wall, M.M., Yang, J. 2020. Roles of transcription factor SQUAMOSA promoter binding protein-like gene family in papaya (Carica papaya) development and ripening. Genomics. 112(4):2734-2747. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygeno.2020.03.009.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygeno.2020.03.009

Interpretive Summary: A fundamental understanding of ripening-related genes and their functional roles during development and ripening is critical for both genetic improvement of papaya breeding and reducing postharvest loss in packing and distribution. Transcription factor SQUAMOSA promoter-binding protein-like (SPL) is a class of plant-specific regulatory genes in plants. In this study, comprehensive information on the SPL genes in papaya was provided, as well as post-transcriptional regulation and expression patterns during fruit development and ripening. The results suggest that papaya SPL genes guided by microRNA play crucial regulatory roles during papaya fruit ripening processes.

Technical Abstract: SQUAMOSA promoter binding protein-like (SPL) family plays vital regulatory roles in plant growth and development. The SPL family in climacteric fruit Carica papaya has not been reported. This study identified 14 papaya SPLs (CpSPL2) from papaya genome and analyzed their sequence features, phylogeny, intron/exon structure, conserved motif, miR156-mediated posttranscriptional regulation, and expression patterns. 14 CpSPLs were clustered into 8 groups, and two distinct expression patterns were revealed for miR156-targeted and nontargeted CpSPLs in different tissues and fruit development stages. The expression changes of CpSPLs in ethephon and 1-MCP treated fruit during ripening suggested that the CpSPLs guided by CpmiR156 play crucial roles in ethylene signaling pathway. This study sheds light on the new function of SPL family in fruit development and ripening, providing insights on understanding evolutionary divergence of the members of SPL family among plant species.