Coordinated Regulation of Iron-Acquisition Genes and Citrate Biosynthesis Drives Seasonal Iron Deficiency Adaptation in ‘Yali’ Pears (<i>Pyrus bretschneideri</i> Rehd.)
Iron deficiency chlorosis severely limits the productivity of ‘Yali’ pears in alkaline soils. This study systematically investigated the physiological and molecular responses of ‘Yali’ pears to varying degrees of iron deficiency, focusing on the roles of <i>PbFRO2 (Pyrus bretschneideri Ferric...
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2025-04-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/5/460 |
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| author | Shuilin Liu Ming Zhang Huiying Wang Yue Xu Chaodie Wen Jianguang Zhang Yuxing Zhang Haiyan Shi |
| author_facet | Shuilin Liu Ming Zhang Huiying Wang Yue Xu Chaodie Wen Jianguang Zhang Yuxing Zhang Haiyan Shi |
| author_sort | Shuilin Liu |
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| description | Iron deficiency chlorosis severely limits the productivity of ‘Yali’ pears in alkaline soils. This study systematically investigated the physiological and molecular responses of ‘Yali’ pears to varying degrees of iron deficiency, focusing on the roles of <i>PbFRO2 (Pyrus bretschneideri Ferric Reductase Oxidase 2)</i>, <i>PbIRT1 (Pyrus bretschneideri Iron-Regulated Transporter 1)</i>, and <i>PbCS2 (Pyrus bretschneideri Citrate Synthase 2)</i> in iron uptake and homeostasis. Based on field observations, pear trees were categorized into normal, moderately chlorotic, and severely chlorotic groups. Results demonstrated that moderate iron deficiency upregulated <i>PbFRO2</i> (2.86–7.09-fold), enhanced root ferric reductase (FCR) activity, and promoted Fe<sup>3+</sup> reduction and Fe<sup>2+</sup> transport. In contrast, severe deficiency suppressed the expression of these genes and reduced photosynthetic efficiency. Leaf citrate content significantly increased with chlorosis severity, while root citrate content exhibited seasonal fluctuations, peaking in July. Multivariate analyses (PCA and PLS-DA) revealed distinct physiological clustering: normal and moderately chlorotic groups overlapped, whereas the severely chlorotic group formed a separate cluster, reflecting a transition from compensatory activation to metabolic collapse. <i>PbFRO2</i> emerged as a central regulator, driving root iron storage in spring and redistribution in summer. These findings elucidate a biphasic adaptation strategy, where moderate deficiency triggers gene-mediated iron mobilization, whereas severe stress disrupts homeostasis. This study provides critical insights into iron metabolism dynamics and proposes <i>PbFRO2</i> as a molecular target for breeding iron-efficient pear cultivars. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-23a8b4def4034d31a6fd246b6f220a5d |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2311-7524 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
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| series | Horticulturae |
| spelling | doaj-art-23a8b4def4034d31a6fd246b6f220a5d2025-08-20T03:14:46ZengMDPI AGHorticulturae2311-75242025-04-0111546010.3390/horticulturae11050460Coordinated Regulation of Iron-Acquisition Genes and Citrate Biosynthesis Drives Seasonal Iron Deficiency Adaptation in ‘Yali’ Pears (<i>Pyrus bretschneideri</i> Rehd.)Shuilin Liu0Ming Zhang1Huiying Wang2Yue Xu3Chaodie Wen4Jianguang Zhang5Yuxing Zhang6Haiyan Shi7College of Horticulture, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071000, ChinaGuangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Engineering Research Center of Marine Food Nutrition and Processing Technology Innovation, Guangxi College and University Key Laboratory of High-Value Utilization of Seafood and Prepared Food in Beibu Gulf, College of Food Engineering, Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou 535011, ChinaCollege of Horticulture, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071000, ChinaCollege of Horticulture, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071000, ChinaGuangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Engineering Research Center of Marine Food Nutrition and Processing Technology Innovation, Guangxi College and University Key Laboratory of High-Value Utilization of Seafood and Prepared Food in Beibu Gulf, College of Food Engineering, Beibu Gulf University, Qinzhou 535011, ChinaCollege of Horticulture, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071000, ChinaCollege of Horticulture, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071000, ChinaCollege of Horticulture, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071000, ChinaIron deficiency chlorosis severely limits the productivity of ‘Yali’ pears in alkaline soils. This study systematically investigated the physiological and molecular responses of ‘Yali’ pears to varying degrees of iron deficiency, focusing on the roles of <i>PbFRO2 (Pyrus bretschneideri Ferric Reductase Oxidase 2)</i>, <i>PbIRT1 (Pyrus bretschneideri Iron-Regulated Transporter 1)</i>, and <i>PbCS2 (Pyrus bretschneideri Citrate Synthase 2)</i> in iron uptake and homeostasis. Based on field observations, pear trees were categorized into normal, moderately chlorotic, and severely chlorotic groups. Results demonstrated that moderate iron deficiency upregulated <i>PbFRO2</i> (2.86–7.09-fold), enhanced root ferric reductase (FCR) activity, and promoted Fe<sup>3+</sup> reduction and Fe<sup>2+</sup> transport. In contrast, severe deficiency suppressed the expression of these genes and reduced photosynthetic efficiency. Leaf citrate content significantly increased with chlorosis severity, while root citrate content exhibited seasonal fluctuations, peaking in July. Multivariate analyses (PCA and PLS-DA) revealed distinct physiological clustering: normal and moderately chlorotic groups overlapped, whereas the severely chlorotic group formed a separate cluster, reflecting a transition from compensatory activation to metabolic collapse. <i>PbFRO2</i> emerged as a central regulator, driving root iron storage in spring and redistribution in summer. These findings elucidate a biphasic adaptation strategy, where moderate deficiency triggers gene-mediated iron mobilization, whereas severe stress disrupts homeostasis. This study provides critical insights into iron metabolism dynamics and proposes <i>PbFRO2</i> as a molecular target for breeding iron-efficient pear cultivars.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/5/460‘Yali’ peariron deficiency chlorosismultivariate analysisseasonal regulation<i>PbFRO2</i> |
| spellingShingle | Shuilin Liu Ming Zhang Huiying Wang Yue Xu Chaodie Wen Jianguang Zhang Yuxing Zhang Haiyan Shi Coordinated Regulation of Iron-Acquisition Genes and Citrate Biosynthesis Drives Seasonal Iron Deficiency Adaptation in ‘Yali’ Pears (<i>Pyrus bretschneideri</i> Rehd.) Horticulturae ‘Yali’ pear iron deficiency chlorosis multivariate analysis seasonal regulation <i>PbFRO2</i> |
| title | Coordinated Regulation of Iron-Acquisition Genes and Citrate Biosynthesis Drives Seasonal Iron Deficiency Adaptation in ‘Yali’ Pears (<i>Pyrus bretschneideri</i> Rehd.) |
| title_full | Coordinated Regulation of Iron-Acquisition Genes and Citrate Biosynthesis Drives Seasonal Iron Deficiency Adaptation in ‘Yali’ Pears (<i>Pyrus bretschneideri</i> Rehd.) |
| title_fullStr | Coordinated Regulation of Iron-Acquisition Genes and Citrate Biosynthesis Drives Seasonal Iron Deficiency Adaptation in ‘Yali’ Pears (<i>Pyrus bretschneideri</i> Rehd.) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Coordinated Regulation of Iron-Acquisition Genes and Citrate Biosynthesis Drives Seasonal Iron Deficiency Adaptation in ‘Yali’ Pears (<i>Pyrus bretschneideri</i> Rehd.) |
| title_short | Coordinated Regulation of Iron-Acquisition Genes and Citrate Biosynthesis Drives Seasonal Iron Deficiency Adaptation in ‘Yali’ Pears (<i>Pyrus bretschneideri</i> Rehd.) |
| title_sort | coordinated regulation of iron acquisition genes and citrate biosynthesis drives seasonal iron deficiency adaptation in yali pears i pyrus bretschneideri i rehd |
| topic | ‘Yali’ pear iron deficiency chlorosis multivariate analysis seasonal regulation <i>PbFRO2</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/5/460 |
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