Genome-wide association studies in a diverse strawberry collection unveil loci controlling agronomic and fruit quality traits.

Strawberries (Fragaria sp.) are cherished for their organoleptic properties and nutritional value. However, breeding new cultivars involves the simultaneous selection of many agronomic and fruit quality traits, including fruit firmness and extended postharvest life.

QTL analysis for ascorbic acid content in strawberry fruit reveals a complex genetic architecture and association with GDP-L-galactose phosphorylase.

Strawberry ( × ) fruits are an excellent source of -ascorbic acid (AsA), a powerful antioxidant for plants and humans. Identifying the genetic components underlying AsA accumulation is crucial for enhancing strawberry nutritional quality. Here, we unravel the genetic architecture of AsA accumulation using an F population derived from parental lines 'Candonga' and 'Senga Sengana', adapted to distinct Southern and Northern European areas.

Role of and in the seasonal control of reproductive and vegetative development in the perennial crop × .

The diploid woodland strawberry () represents an important model for the genus . Significant advances in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating seasonal alternance of flower induction and vegetative reproduction has been made in this species. However, this research area has received little attention on the cultivated octoploid strawberry ( × ) despite its enormous agronomical and economic importance.

Allelic Variation of Is the Major Force Controlling Natural Variation in Skin and Flesh Color in Strawberry ( spp.) Fruit.

The fruits of diploid and octoploid strawberry ( spp) show substantial natural variation in color due to distinct anthocyanin accumulation and distribution patterns. Anthocyanin biosynthesis is controlled by a clade of R2R3 MYB transcription factors, among which MYB10 is the main activator in strawberry fruit. Here, we show that mutations in cause most of the variation in anthocyanin accumulation and distribution observed in diploid woodland strawberry () and octoploid cultivated strawberry ( ×).

The Arabidopsis Auxin Receptor F-Box Proteins AFB4 and AFB5 Are Required for Response to the Synthetic Auxin Picloram.

The plant hormone auxin is perceived by a family of F-box proteins called the TIR1/AFBs. Phylogenetic studies reveal that these proteins fall into four clades in flowering plants called TIR1, AFB2, AFB4, and AFB6. Genetic studies indicate that members of the TIR1 and AFB2 groups act as positive regulators of auxin signaling by promoting the degradation of the Aux/IAA transcriptional repressors.

Gibberellins accumulate in the elongating endodermal cells of Arabidopsis root.

Plant hormones are small-molecule signaling compounds that are collectively involved in all aspects of plant growth and development. Unlike animals, plants actively regulate the spatial distribution of several of their hormones. For example, auxin transport results in the formation of auxin maxima that have a key role in developmental patterning.

Hypocotyl transcriptome reveals auxin regulation of growth-promoting genes through GA-dependent and -independent pathways.

Many processes critical to plant growth and development are regulated by the hormone auxin. Auxin responses are initiated through activation of a transcriptional response mediated by the TIR1/AFB family of F-box protein auxin receptors as well as the AUX/IAA and ARF families of transcriptional regulators. However, there is little information on how auxin regulates a specific cellular response.

TEMPRANILLO genes link photoperiod and gibberellin pathways to control flowering in Arabidopsis.

In Arabidopsis, FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) promotes flowering in response to long days in the photoperiod pathway, while signalling downstream gibberellin (GA) perception is critical for flowering under short days. Previously we have established that the TEMPRANILLO (TEM) genes have a pivotal role in the direct repression of FT. Here we show that TEM genes directly regulate the expression of the GA(4) biosynthetic genes GA 3-oxidase1 and 2 (GA3OX1 and GA3OX2).

The AFB4 auxin receptor is a negative regulator of auxin signaling in seedlings.

The plant hormone auxin is perceived by a family of F box proteins called the TIR1/auxin-signaling F box proteins (AFBs). Phylogenetic studies reveal that these proteins fall into four clades in flowering plants called TIR1, AFB2, AFB4, and AFB6. Genetic studies indicate that members of the TIR1 and AFB2 groups act as positive regulators of auxin signaling.

The balance between CONSTANS and TEMPRANILLO activities determines FT expression to trigger flowering.

Seasonal changes in day length influence flowering time in many plant species. In Arabidopsis, flowering is accelerated by exposure to long day (LD). Those inductive photoperiods are perceived in leaves [1] and initiate a long-distance signaling mediated by CO and FT.

Partial demethylation of oligogalacturonides by pectin methyl esterase 1 is required for eliciting defence responses in wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca).

In addition to the role of the cell wall as a physical barrier against pathogens, some of its constituents, such as pectin-derived oligogalacturonides (OGA), are essential components for elicitation of defence responses. To investigate how modifications of pectin alter defence responses, we expressed the fruit-specific Fragaria x ananassa pectin methyl esterase FaPE1 in the wild strawberry Fragaria vesca. Pectin from transgenic ripe fruits differed from the wild-type with regard to the degree and pattern of methyl esterification, as well as the average size of pectin polymers.

The strawberry gene FaGAST affects plant growth through inhibition of cell elongation.

The strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) FaGAST gene encodes a small protein with 12 cysteine residues conserved in the C-terminal region similar to a group of proteins identified in other species with diverse assigned functions such as cell division, elongation, or elongation arrest. This gene is expressed in the fruit receptacle, with two peaks during ripening at the white and the red-ripe stages, both coincident with an arrest in the growth pattern. Expression is also high in the roots but confined to the cells at the end of the elongation zone.

A new role of the Arabidopsis SEPALLATA3 gene revealed by its constitutive expression.

During Arabidopsis flower development a set of homeotic genes plays a central role in specifying the distinct floral organs of the four whorls, sepals in the outermost whorl, and petals, stamens, and carpels in the sequentially inner whorls. The current model for the identity of the floral organs includes the SEPALLATA genes that act in combination with the A, B and C genes for the specification of sepals, petals, stamens and carpels. According to this new model, the floral organ identity proteins would form different complexes of proteins for the activation of the downstream genes.

Pectin esterase gene family in strawberry fruit: study of FaPE1, a ripening-specific isoform.

Pectin esterases (PE, EC 3.1.1.