Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie, 15, 37134 Verona, Italy.
Genes (Basel). 2020 Nov 30;11(12):1441. doi: 10.3390/genes11121441.
Fruit set is the earliest phase of fruit growth and represents the onset of ovary growth after successful fertilization. In parthenocarpy, fruit formation is less affected by environmental factors because it occurs in the absence of pollination and fertilization, making parthenocarpy a highly desired agronomic trait. Elucidating the genetic program controlling parthenocarpy, and more generally fruit set, may have important implications in agriculture, considering the need for crops to be adaptable to climate changes. Several phytohormones play an important role in the transition from flower to fruit. Further complexity emerges from functional analysis of floral homeotic genes. Some homeotic genes are implicated in fruit growth and development, displaying an expression pattern commonly observed for ovary growth repressors. Here, we provide an overview of recent discoveries on the molecular regulatory gene network underlying fruit set in tomato, the model organism for fleshy fruit development due to the many genetic and genomic resources available. We describe how the genetic modification of components of this network can cause parthenocarpy, discussing the contribution of hormonal signals and MADS-box transcription factors.
坐果是果实生长的最早阶段，代表着授粉和受精成功后子房生长的开始。在单性结实中，果实的形成较少受到环境因素的影响，因为它是在没有授粉和受精的情况下发生的，这使得单性结实成为一种非常理想的农业性状。阐明控制单性结实，更广泛地说控制果实形成的遗传程序，在农业方面可能具有重要意义，因为考虑到作物需要适应气候变化。几种植物激素在花到果实的转变中起着重要作用。从花同源异型基因的功能分析中可以进一步看出其复杂性。一些同源异型基因与果实的生长和发育有关，表现出与通常观察到的抑制子房生长的基因相似的表达模式。在这里，我们概述了番茄果实形成的分子调控基因网络的最新发现，番茄是肉质果实发育的模式生物，因为有许多遗传和基因组资源。我们描述了如何对该网络的组成部分进行遗传修饰可以导致单性结实，并讨论了激素信号和 MADS 框转录因子的贡献。
