MYB41, MYB107, and MYC2 promote ABA-mediated primary fatty alcohol accumulation via activation of in wound suberization in kiwifruit.

Wound damage triggers the accumulation of abscisic acid (ABA), which induces the expression of a large number of genes involved in wound suberization in plants. Fatty acyl-CoA reductase (FAR) catalyzes the generation of primary fatty alcohols by the reduction of fatty acids in suberin biosynthesis. However, the regulatory effects of transcription factors (TFs) on in response to ABA are unexplored. In this study, kiwifruit displayed a biological function analogous to that of FAR in transiently overexpressed tobacco () leaves. The positive role of TFs, including AchnMYB41, AchnMYB107, and AchnMYC2, in the regulation of was identified. The three TFs could individually bind to the promoter to activate gene transcription in yeast one-hybrid and dual-luciferase assays. Transient overexpression of TFs in tobacco leaves resulted in the upregulation of aliphatic synthesis genes (including ) and the increase in aliphatics, including primary alcohols, α,ω-diacids, ω-hydroxyacids, and fatty acids. Moreover, exogenous ABA treatment elevated TF-mediated expression and the accumulation of primary alcohols. Conversely, fluridone, an inhibitor of ABA biosynthesis, suppressed the expression of and TF genes and reduced the formation of primary alcohols. The results indicate that AchnMYB41, AchnMYB107, and AchnMYC2 activate transcription to promote ABA-mediated primary alcohol formation in wound suberization in kiwifruit.