Regulatory effects of gibberellin and cytokinin on citrus peel cell wall metabolism

Abstract During citrus fruit development, exogenous gibberellin (GA) and 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA, a synthetic cytokinin (CTK)) are both known to promote citrus peel thickness; however, the differences in their regulatory mechanisms on cell wall metabolism in citrus peels remain unclear. In this st...

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Main Authors: Xun Wang, Yuping Wang, Defa Cao, Panpan Gao, Mingfei Zhang, Jiaxian He, Bo Xiong, Ling Liao, Guochao Sun, Siya He, QiangFeng Wang, ZhongMei Xia, Zhihui Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-06-01
Series:BMC Plant Biology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06705-5
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author Xun Wang
Yuping Wang
Defa Cao
Panpan Gao
Mingfei Zhang
Jiaxian He
Bo Xiong
Ling Liao
Guochao Sun
Siya He
QiangFeng Wang
ZhongMei Xia
Zhihui Wang
author_facet Xun Wang
Yuping Wang
Defa Cao
Panpan Gao
Mingfei Zhang
Jiaxian He
Bo Xiong
Ling Liao
Guochao Sun
Siya He
QiangFeng Wang
ZhongMei Xia
Zhihui Wang
author_sort Xun Wang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract During citrus fruit development, exogenous gibberellin (GA) and 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA, a synthetic cytokinin (CTK)) are both known to promote citrus peel thickness; however, the differences in their regulatory mechanisms on cell wall metabolism in citrus peels remain unclear. In this study, we found that GA treatment significantly increased cell wall polysaccharides in citrus peels, such as pectin and cellulose, whereas 6-BA treatment led to a notable accumulation of lignin. RNA-sequencing data revealed that several fruit ripening-related cell wall degradation genes, such as PME3, PL18, and EXPA1/8, exhibited decreased expression levels in both GA and 6-BA treatments. Additionally, a set of cell wall polysaccharide synthesis genes was upregulated in response to GA treatment but was largely downregulated in 6-BA-treated peels. Conversely, a group of lignin biosynthesis genes was upregulated in 6-BA-treated peels. GA treatment inhibited DELLA proteins (encoded by RGA and GAI) in the GA signaling pathway, whereas 6-BA treatment increased the expression of B-ARRs (ARR1 and ARR2) in the CTK signaling pathway. Furthermore, GA treatment elevated endogenous CTK levels, while 6-BA treatment also enhanced endogenous GA content, suggesting a reciprocal interaction between these two hormonal pathways.
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series BMC Plant Biology
spelling doaj-art-de15f0d48af74f62a7dcc3e6676f603a2025-08-20T02:05:45ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292025-06-0125111110.1186/s12870-025-06705-5Regulatory effects of gibberellin and cytokinin on citrus peel cell wall metabolismXun Wang0Yuping Wang1Defa Cao2Panpan Gao3Mingfei Zhang4Jiaxian He5Bo Xiong6Ling Liao7Guochao Sun8Siya He9QiangFeng Wang10ZhongMei Xia11Zhihui Wang12College of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityInstitute of Biotechnology and Nuclear Technology, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural SciencesInstitute of Biotechnology and Nuclear Technology, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural SciencesCollege of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural UniversityAbstract During citrus fruit development, exogenous gibberellin (GA) and 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA, a synthetic cytokinin (CTK)) are both known to promote citrus peel thickness; however, the differences in their regulatory mechanisms on cell wall metabolism in citrus peels remain unclear. In this study, we found that GA treatment significantly increased cell wall polysaccharides in citrus peels, such as pectin and cellulose, whereas 6-BA treatment led to a notable accumulation of lignin. RNA-sequencing data revealed that several fruit ripening-related cell wall degradation genes, such as PME3, PL18, and EXPA1/8, exhibited decreased expression levels in both GA and 6-BA treatments. Additionally, a set of cell wall polysaccharide synthesis genes was upregulated in response to GA treatment but was largely downregulated in 6-BA-treated peels. Conversely, a group of lignin biosynthesis genes was upregulated in 6-BA-treated peels. GA treatment inhibited DELLA proteins (encoded by RGA and GAI) in the GA signaling pathway, whereas 6-BA treatment increased the expression of B-ARRs (ARR1 and ARR2) in the CTK signaling pathway. Furthermore, GA treatment elevated endogenous CTK levels, while 6-BA treatment also enhanced endogenous GA content, suggesting a reciprocal interaction between these two hormonal pathways.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06705-5Citrus peelsCell wallGibberellinCytokininDELLAsB-ARRs
spellingShingle Xun Wang
Yuping Wang
Defa Cao
Panpan Gao
Mingfei Zhang
Jiaxian He
Bo Xiong
Ling Liao
Guochao Sun
Siya He
QiangFeng Wang
ZhongMei Xia
Zhihui Wang
Regulatory effects of gibberellin and cytokinin on citrus peel cell wall metabolism
BMC Plant Biology
Citrus peels
Cell wall
Gibberellin
Cytokinin
DELLAs
B-ARRs
title Regulatory effects of gibberellin and cytokinin on citrus peel cell wall metabolism
title_full Regulatory effects of gibberellin and cytokinin on citrus peel cell wall metabolism
title_fullStr Regulatory effects of gibberellin and cytokinin on citrus peel cell wall metabolism
title_full_unstemmed Regulatory effects of gibberellin and cytokinin on citrus peel cell wall metabolism
title_short Regulatory effects of gibberellin and cytokinin on citrus peel cell wall metabolism
title_sort regulatory effects of gibberellin and cytokinin on citrus peel cell wall metabolism
topic Citrus peels
Cell wall
Gibberellin
Cytokinin
DELLAs
B-ARRs
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06705-5
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