PpGATA4 mediates fruit softening and transcriptionally regulates PpEXPA1 in peach (Prunus persica)

Softening during fruit ripening often exacerbates mechanical damage during postharvest processing and increases susceptibility to pathogens. According to current research, the fruit softening process is closely related to the degradation of the cell wall. The nonenzymatic protein expansin (EXP) is a key cell wall loosening agent involved in cell growth and cell wall degradation. However, the transcriptional regulation of EXPs during peach fruit softening remains unclear. In this study, the transcription factor PpGATA4 was found to be involved in the postharvest softening of peach fruit. To better understand the regulatory mechanisms involved, the GATA gene family in peach (Prunus persica) was identified. Analysis of the transcriptomes of the transient overexpression and postharvest storage stages of peach revealed that an expansin gene, PpEXPA1, was related to PpGATA4. Further studies revealed a regulatory model in which PpGATA4 could transactivate the expression of PpEXPA1.