The putative ABCG transporter from grapevine () is strongly expressed in the seed coat of developing seeds and may participate in suberin biosynthesis.

Half-size ATP binding cassette G (ABCG) transporters participate in many biological processes by transporting specific substrates. Our previous study showed that was strongly expressed in the seeds of seeded grape and the silencing of homolog gene in tomato led to a reduction in seed number. To reveal the molecular mechanism of gene involved in grape seed development/abortion, the gene expression and functional analysis of were further carried out in the grapevine. It was shown that the gene expression of was higher in seeds of seeded grapes compared with seedless. Further the expression of in the seed coat was significantly higher than in ovules (young seeds) and endosperm. was also induced by exogenous hormones (especially MeJA) in grape leaves. Subcellular localization analysis showed that VviABCG20 is a membrane protein. In overexpressed transgenic callus of Thompson seedless, expression of genes , and was increased significantly. After treatment with suberin precursors, the transgenic callus reduced the sensitivity to three cinnamic acid derivatives (-ferulic acid, caffeic acid, coumaric acid), succinic acid, and glycerol. In suspension cells, expression of was increased significantly after treatment with suberin precursors. Our research suggested that may function in seed development in grapevine, at least in part by participating in suberin biosynthesis in the seed coat.