Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops of the Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China.
Sino-Dutch Joint Laboratory of Horticultural Genomics, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China.
Nat Commun. 2020 Nov 17;11(1):5844. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-19705-w.
Fruit firmness is a target trait in tomato breeding because it facilitates transportation and storage. However, it is also a complex trait and uncovering the molecular genetic mechanisms controlling fruit firmness has proven challenging. Here, we report the map-based cloning and functional characterization of qFIRM SKIN 1 (qFIS1), a major quantitative trait locus that partially determines the difference in compression resistance between cultivated and wild tomato accessions. FIS1 encodes a GA2-oxidase, and its mutation leads to increased bioactive gibberellin content, enhanced cutin and wax biosynthesis, and increased fruit firmness and shelf life. Importantly, FIS1 has no unfavorable effect on fruit weight or taste, making it an ideal target for breeders. Our study demonstrates that FIS1 mediates gibberellin catabolism and regulates fruit firmness, and it offers a potential strategy for tomato breeders to produce firmer fruit.
果实硬度是番茄育种的目标性状，因为它有利于运输和储存。然而，它也是一个复杂的性状，揭示控制果实硬度的分子遗传机制一直具有挑战性。在这里，我们报道了 qFIRM SKIN 1（qFIS1）的图谱定位克隆和功能表征，qFIS1 是一个主要的数量性状位点，部分决定了栽培和野生番茄品种之间抗压能力的差异。FIS1 编码一个 GA2-氧化酶，其突变导致生物活性赤霉素含量增加，角质层和蜡质生物合成增强，果实硬度和货架期延长。重要的是，FIS1 对果实重量或口感没有不利影响，使其成为育种者的理想目标。我们的研究表明，FIS1 介导赤霉素的分解代谢并调节果实硬度，为番茄育种者提供了生产更硬果实的潜在策略。
