Genome-wide analysis of AP2/ERF family in and characterization of an gene regulate fruit ripening.

INTRODUCTION

Ethylene response factors (ERF) were important for plant growth, hormone signaling, fruit ripening and stress response. Despite the wide identification of ERF family members in various species, limited information is available regarding this family in .

METHODS

The APETALA2/ethylene response factor genes in were identified and analyzed using bioinformatic approaches and was verified to be involved in fruit ripening by experiments.

RESULTS

Therefore, 131 APETALA2/ethylene response factor genes were identified from the genome. Gene structures, motif compositions, tandem duplication events and promoter structure of ERF genes were characterized, providing insights into the molecular basis underlying the discrepant functions of ERF genes within each evolutionary branch. Expression patterns under ethylene and 1-MCP treatments of these genes were further analyzed using real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), revealing that 9 key ERF genes are closely associated with fruit ripening. A co-expression regulatory network analysis indicated that was one of the hub gene. was found to localize in nucleus by subcellular localization analysis. Overexpression of in and tomato fruit resulted in early fruit ripening. The expression levels of , and in overexpression fruits were increased by about 30-fold, 5-fold and 1-fold, respectively, compared with the control, whereas silencing of in by virus induced gene silencing showed opposite trends. Moreover, RT-qPCR experiments showed that the expression of , and in overexpression tomato fruits at red-ripe stage were significantly increased compared with the control fruits, indicating that may play an important role in regulating fruit ripening.

DISCUSSION

Our results provide new insights into the underlying regulatory mechanisms of the AP2/ERF family during fruit ripening.