Transcriptome profiling by RNA-Seq reveals differentially expressed genes related to fruit development and ripening characteristics in strawberries (Fragaria×ananassa)

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Abstract
Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) is an ideal plant for fruit development and ripening research due to the rapid substantial changes in fruit color, aroma, taste, and softening. To gain deeper insights into the genes that play a central regulatory role in strawberry fruit development and ripening characteristics, transcriptome profiling was performed for the large green fruit, white fruit, turning fruit, and red fruit stages of strawberry. A total of 6,608 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with 2,643 up-regulated and 3,965 down-regulated genes were identified in the fruit development and ripening process. The DEGs related to fruit flavonoid biosynthesis, starch and sucrose biosynthesis, the citrate cycle, and cell-wall modification enzymes played important roles in the fruit development and ripening process. Particularly, some candidate genes related to the ubiquitin mediated proteolysis pathway and MADS-box were confirmed to be involved in fruit development and ripening according to their possible regulatory functions. A total of fiveubiquitin-conjugating enzymesand 10MADS-box transcription factorswere differentially expressed between the four fruit ripening stages. The expression levels of DEGs relating to color, aroma, taste, and softening of fruit were confirmed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Our study provides important insights into the complicated regulatory mechanism underlying the fruit ripening characteristics inFragaria × ananassa.
Funding Information
  • Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund (1610192018111, 1612382017204)
  • Natural Science Foundation of Henan Province (162300410329)
  • Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program (CAAS-ASTIP-2017-ZFRI)

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