Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis Revealed the Suppression and Alternative Splicing of Kiwifruit () Gene Mediating Trichome Development.

Kiwifruit () is commonly covered by fruit hairs (trichomes) that affect kiwifruit popularity in the commercial market. However, it remains largely unknown which gene mediates trichome development in kiwifruit. In this study, we analyzed two kiwifruit species, (Ae) with long, straight, and bushy trichomes and (Al) with short, distorted, and spare trichomes, by second- and third-generation RNA sequencing. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that the expression of the gene, a positive regulator of trichome development, was suppressed in Al compared with that in Ae. Additionally, the alternative splicing of produced two short transcripts ( and ) lacking multiple exons, in addition to a full-length transcript of . The defects of trichome development (short and distorted trichome) in mutant were rescued by but not by . gene does not affect trichome density in mutant. The qRT-PCR analysis indicated that the alternative splicing further reduces the level of functional transcripts. These results indicated that the short and distorted trichomes in Al might be caused by the suppression and alternative splicing of . Together, we revealed that mediates trichome development and is a good candidate target for genetic modification of trichome length in kiwifruit.