EjNAC25, a NAC transcription factor in early-maturing seedless triploid loquat, promotes sugar and malic acid accumulation by activating EjNI and EjtDT2

IF 6.4 1区农林科学 Q1 AGRONOMY

Postharvest Biology and Technology Pub Date : 2025-02-26 DOI:10.1016/j.postharvbio.2025.113474

Zhuoheng Chi , Maoling Zhao , Luwei Wang , Qiankun Hu , Shuming Wang , Qigao Guo , Danlong Jing , Guolu Liang , Yan Xia

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Taste is an important fruit quality trait in commercial fruits and is influenced by transcriptional regulation. NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2) transcription factors (TFs) play crucial roles in fruit ripening. However, the regulatory mechanism of NAC TF on taste formation in loquat fruit remains unclear. Here, we identified a NAC TF, EjNAC25, which is highly expressed in mature loquat fruits and closely related to sugar and malic acid content. After isolation of EjNAC25 from early-maturing seedless triploid loquat, transient transformation in loquat and stable overexpression in tomato were performed. The result showed that EjNAC25 positively regulated the accumulation of sugar and malic acid. Dual-luciferase assays and yeast one-hybrid experiments showed that EjNAC25 could directly bind to the promoter regions of the neutral invertase gene EjNI and the tonoplast dicarboxylate transporter EjtDT2, thereby activating their transcription. Furthermore, overexpression of EjNI increased the activity of neutral invertase, which enhanced the conversion of sucrose to fructose and glucose. Overexpression of EjtDT2 promoted the accumulation of malic acid. In summary, our study revealed that EjNAC25 positively regulates sugar and malic acid content by activating EjNI and EjtDT2 in loquat. This study provides a theoretical basis for regulatory mechanisms of NAC TF on fruit taste and contributes to the future improvement of loquat fruit quality through biotechnology.

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来源期刊

Postharvest Biology and Technology 农林科学-农艺学

CiteScore

12.00

自引率

11.40%

发文量

309

审稿时长

38 days

期刊介绍： The journal is devoted exclusively to the publication of original papers, review articles and frontiers articles on biological and technological postharvest research. This includes the areas of postharvest storage, treatments and underpinning mechanisms, quality evaluation, packaging, handling and distribution of fresh horticultural crops including fruit, vegetables, flowers and nuts, but excluding grains, seeds and forages. Papers reporting novel insights from fundamental and interdisciplinary research will be particularly encouraged. These disciplines include systems biology, bioinformatics, entomology, plant physiology, plant pathology, (bio)chemistry, engineering, modelling, and technologies for nondestructive testing. Manuscripts on fresh food crops that will be further processed after postharvest storage, or on food processes beyond refrigeration, packaging and minimal processing will not be considered.