Gibberellins: The hidden regulators of tomato ripeness
image: Exogenous GA-treatment inhibits fruit ripening process in ethylene signal impaired mutants.
Credit: Horticulture Research
A pivotal study has unveiled the critical influence of gibberellins (GAs) in tomato ripening, a process long attributed primarily to ethylene. By mediating the actions of multiple plant hormones, including auxin and abscisic acid (ABA), GAs have been shown to either delay or accelerate fruit maturation. This revelation holds the potential to revolutionize agricultural practices, enabling enhanced yield, quality, and shelf life through precise hormonal manipulation.
Tomato ripening is a cornerstone of agricultural productivity, involving a delicate interplay of hormonal signals. Ethylene has traditionally taken center stage in this process, yet the roles of other hormones, particularly gibberellins (GAs), have remained elusive. This knowledge gap has limited efforts to optimize fruit development and quality. Addressing this challenge, researchers have embarked on a quest to uncover the intricate hormonal crosstalk that governs tomato ripening, driven by the need to better understand and control this vital agricultural process.
A research team from Sichuan University has made significant headway, with their findings (DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhae275) featured in the December 18, 2023 issue of Horticulture Research. Their study sheds light on the pivotal role of gibberellins in modulating the ripening process of tomatoes. By demonstrating how gibberellins influence ethylene and other hormonal pathways, the research provides a new perspective on the molecular mechanisms underlying fruit maturation.
The study delves deeply into the effects of gibberellins, revealing that their exogenous application or the overexpression of the gibberellin synthesis gene SlGA3ox2 in tomato tissues delays ripening. Conversely, the use of the gibberellin biosynthesis inhibitor paclobutrazol (PAC) accelerates ripening, indicating a repressive role for gibberellins in the process. Transcriptomic analysis uncovers a complex network of interactions where gibberellins regulate not only ethylene but also auxin and abscisic acid metabolism and signaling, highlighting their central role in a sophisticated hormonal interplay. This discovery opens new avenues for targeted agricultural strategies to control ripening and improve crop yield and quality.
Dr. Mingchun Liu, the lead researcher, remarked, "Our findings reveal a previously unexplored layer of hormonal regulation in tomato ripening, with gibberellins emerging as key orchestrators beyond ethylene. This insight offers exciting possibilities for using hormonal interventions to improve fruit quality and extend shelf life in tomatoes and other climacteric fruits."
The study's implications extend well beyond tomatoes, holding promise for broader applications in precision agriculture and postharvest management. By fine-tuning gibberellin levels, producers could control the timing and quality of fruit ripening, resulting in better taste, nutritional value, and longevity. Such innovations could help reduce food waste, boost farmer profitability, and deliver superior produce to consumers, underscoring the transformative potential of this scientific breakthrough.
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References
DOI
Original Source URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhad275
Funding information
This work was supported in part by the Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province, China (2023NSFSC1991), the Institutional Research Funding of Sichuan University (2022SCUNL105), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.31772372, No.32172643, No.32172271), the Applied Basic Research Category of Science and Technology Program of Sichuan Province (2021YFQ0071; 2022YFSY0059-1; 2021YFYZ0010-5-LH), and the Technology Innovation and Application Development Program of Chongqing (cstc2021jscx-cylhX0001).
About Horticulture Research
Horticulture Research is an open access journal of Nanjing Agricultural University and ranked number one in the Horticulture category of the Journal Citation Reports ™ from Clarivate, 2022. The journal is committed to publishing original research articles, reviews, perspectives, comments, correspondence articles and letters to the editor related to all major horticultural plants and disciplines, including biotechnology, breeding, cellular and molecular biology, evolution, genetics, inter-species interactions, physiology, and the origination and domestication of crops.