Genome-Wide Characterization of the <i>ABA Receptor Pyrabactin Resistance 1-like</i> (<i>PYL</i>) Gene Family in Strawberry and Functional Assessment of FaPYL3 and FaPYL4 in Fruit Ripening

The ABA receptor pyrabactin resistance 1-like (PYR/PYL) protein family is among the key regulators of plant growth and development, participating in ABA signaling. However, information on this family in strawberry (<i>Fragaria</i> × <i>ananassa</i>), an important fleshy fruit...

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Main Authors: Sizhen Jia, Bei Lu, Yuanhua Wang, Qiguo Sun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Horticulturae
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/3/292
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Summary:The ABA receptor pyrabactin resistance 1-like (PYR/PYL) protein family is among the key regulators of plant growth and development, participating in ABA signaling. However, information on this family in strawberry (<i>Fragaria</i> × <i>ananassa</i>), an important fleshy fruit crop worldwide, is limited. In the present work, seven homologs of <i>Arabidopsis</i> PYL were first identified and characterized from <i>Fragaria</i> × <i>ananassa</i>. Furthermore, a comprehensive analysis of the FaPYLs was performed, including their phylogenetic relationships, gene structures, chromosomal locations, and conserved domains. The qRT–PCR analysis showed that <i>FaPYL</i> genes had differential expression patterns between fruit ripening stages, and most of them were transcribed in the SG (small green fruits,) and Wh (white fruits) stages of fruit ripening. Treatment of strawberry fruits with ABA and JA changed the expression of all <i>FaPYLs</i> in a gene-specific manner, depending on the berry ripening stage; at the turning stage, only the expression levels of <i>FaPYL3</i> and <i>FaPYL4</i> increased in response to ABA. Promoter analysis showed that most <i>FaPYL</i> genes contain cis-acting elements that respond to stress, light, and phytohormones and are associated with tissue-specific expression. Additionally, <i>FaPYL3</i> and <i>FaPYL4</i> were further functionally characterized using transient expression technology. Overexpression of <i>FaPYL3</i> and <i>FaPYL4</i> promoted strawberry fruit ripening, which positively regulated <i>FaSnRK2.2</i> and <i>FaNCED1</i> transcripts. Our results highlight the great potential of <i>FaPYL</i> genes in breeding genetically modified strawberry varieties with accelerated fruit ripening.
ISSN:2311-7524